tomato borer???

[piegirl]

Noticed a slightly wilted branch last night - Old German,
Chef Jeff plant - and just rechecked and found what looks
like a bore hole of some type - close the ground, the stem
was hollowed almost like a squash borer. What do I do
and can this spread to my other 30 plants? HELP HELP HELP
I remove the branch almost at the crown. Piegirl

[Fert1]

I see no one has answered this post. I've heard of an insect that will bore into tomato plants, but I do not recall the name, and it seems to only happen rarely. It seems like it was a corn borer of some sort if I remember correctly, (don't quote me on that though).

The only reason I have heard of it, is that I have a mysterious wilting thing going on in my garden in recent years that does not completely fit the pattern of any disease I know about, and I considered insects as a possibility. I've never been able to find any signs of insects though, so I think in my case it is some sort of disease.

[PeteD]

As a former pumpkin grower (not enough cultivating space right now, plus tomatoes taste better), I would recommend dissecting the branch carefully to look for the offender. If it is similar to a squash borer, it will be in there...

[Fert1]

I got curious and went googling. Found something here
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortn...92/tomato.html

Stalk Borer
The stalk borer is an insect pest that attacks a wide variety of plants including tomatoes. The larva (caterpillar) bores into the stem and tunnels inside the stalk. (The entrance hole is small and often difficult to locate). Affected plants wilt and often die. However, stalk borer damaged plants that are given good care may survive. The stalk borer is a purple and cream striped caterpillar with a solid purple band around its body 1/3 of the way back from its head. It is an early season pest that moves from tall grassy weeds and occasionally attacks tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers in the vegetable garden. An individual stalk borer may damage more than 1 tomato plant. The adult is an inconspicuous grayish brown moth. Tomato plants that die should be pulled and destroyed. The destruction of the plants may also kill the stalk borer. Cutting or mowing tall weedy areas around vegetable gardens may also help control the pest. Stalk borers cannot be effectively controlled with insecticides.

[piegirl]

Thanks Holly - this was definitely a borer of some type.
I found the hole after removing the affected stem. Move
up the stem about five inches hollowing out the stem. I
think the little bugger was there but since I didn't
have my glasses on, not sure. Old German seems to be multi
stemmed and the rest of the plant is doing well - not a
huge producer for me, some flowers forming now. Thank
you again - piegirl

[piegirl]

A quick tour of the garden just turned up another wilted plant
the borer hole is about 4-5" up the stem and about 1/8 inch
in a perfect circle. This is one of my smaller seedlings so
I am not totally devastated but would sevin dust around the
base of each plant prevent this? I carefully inserted a large
straight pin in the hole hoping I killed the invader. Piegirl

[Suze]

Originally Posted by piegirl

This is one of my smaller seedlings so I am not totally devastated but would sevin dust around the base of each plant prevent this?

Maybe -- it would be worth a try. Probably one of your best options at this point. Sevin will kill a stalk borer if they come in contact with it. In practice, it can sometimes be difficult to keep them all from happening upon a point of entry that doesn't have pesticides on it (with larger plants).