Tomato Horn Worms - Page 2

lavanta · August 26, 2014

BT every three weeks and no issues with them. My tri weekly rotation: BT, daconil, kelp spray.

ejones1961 · August 27, 2014

What is BT?

lavanta · August 27, 2014

Thuricide (bacillus thuringiensis). Make sure not to spray on milk weed as it also impacts monarch butterflies.

feldon30 · August 28, 2014

bacillus thuringiensis is a totally organic (OMRI) bacteria that gives caterpillars, worms, etc. chronic indigestion, but is otherwise completely safe for humans and animals. It is sold as BT Worm Killer (liquid), Thuricide (liquid), Dipel Dust (powder), etc.

My issue with waiting for parasitic wasps is, a hornworm can strip down a tomato plant in 1 day. I guess if you have a huge garden and have extra plants you can live without, this is an OK approach.

ejones1961 · August 28, 2014

Thank you

Redbaron · August 28, 2014

Interestingly I did manage to find a hornworm yesterday. But what a mess it was. All covered with some scaly disease and barely alive. I killed it anyway, but seems some unknown natural fungus or bacteria got it. So far I still haven't needed to bring out the Bt this year in my original project test plot, and only once in my new 1 acre test plot started this year. It surprises even me, and I predicted something like this would eventually happen!

Only year two in my project and already the artificial "ecosystem" I made is showing measurable and visible signs of natural pest control completely without inputs by me. I haven't thrown away the Bt yet though!

It's my back-up "just in case".

clkeiper · August 31, 2014

Well, After this last week there isn't a thing left for the worms in my moms garden. My son went on Wed and by Saturday there wasn't a leaf left on most of the tomatoes. It looks like the whole garden was hit with bacterial spot. SAD!

August 28, 2014	#19
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	bacillus thuringiensis is a totally organic (OMRI) bacteria that gives caterpillars, worms, etc. chronic indigestion, but is otherwise completely safe for humans and animals. It is sold as BT Worm Killer (liquid), Thuricide (liquid), Dipel Dust (powder), etc. My issue with waiting for parasitic wasps is, a hornworm can strip down a tomato plant in 1 day. I guess if you have a huge garden and have extra plants you can live without, this is an OK approach. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

August 28, 2014	#21
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Interestingly I did manage to find a hornworm yesterday. But what a mess it was. All covered with some scaly disease and barely alive. I killed it anyway, but seems some unknown natural fungus or bacteria got it. So far I still haven't needed to bring out the Bt this year in my original project test plot, and only once in my new 1 acre test plot started this year. It surprises even me, and I predicted something like this would eventually happen! Only year two in my project and already the artificial "ecosystem" I made is showing measurable and visible signs of natural pest control completely without inputs by me. I haven't thrown away the Bt yet though! It's my back-up "just in case". __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture Last edited by Redbaron; August 28, 2014 at 11:39 AM.

August 31, 2014	#22
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	Well, After this last week there isn't a thing left for the worms in my moms garden. My son went on Wed and by Saturday there wasn't a leaf left on most of the tomatoes. It looks like the whole garden was hit with bacterial spot. SAD! __________________ carolyn k

August 26, 2014	#16
lavanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 68	BT every three weeks and no issues with them. My tri weekly rotation: BT, daconil, kelp spray.

August 27, 2014	#17
ejones1961 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: martin, tn Posts: 15	What is BT?