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Garden Gate:  Green Worms Ate My Tomato Plant  |
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RobinB
Farmgirl in Training
32 Posts
Robin
Rockvale
Tennessee
USA
32 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 23 2006 : 05:23:49 AM
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| Last night I went outside to find that all the leaves were eaten on one of my tomato plants. I found 2 huge green horn worms and washed them away with the garden hose. Any suggestions to protect my plants? I'm afraid I'll go out one evening to find my garden gone!Thanks! |
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2006 : 07:01:26 AM
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That happened to me one year. It made me so mad to see my beautiful, lush tomato plants denuded!! 
So, I found all of the horn worms, picked them off and put them in the street. You could hear them squish when they were run over by cars.
Mean, devious, cold-hearted I know, but I felt better!!
Karin
PS- You really need to find them and kill them or they will come back and eat more. |
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RobinB
Farmgirl in Training
32 Posts
Robin
Rockvale
Tennessee
USA
32 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2006 : 07:14:58 AM
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Westernhorse51 and Mumof3, thank you for those quick and helpful replies. I think I will be on my hands and knees carefully inspecting each plant this weekend.
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Whimsy_girl
True Blue Farmgirl
576 Posts
USA
576 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2006 : 07:33:47 AM
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I know it's a pain when they get to your garden.. btt aren't those big nasty old worms fascinating? From a toddlers point of view they are just gigantic I bet. It would be fun to get one of those guys in a bug jar for an hour for my girls to look at... but for the moment I am stuck in an apartment with no tomato in sight so It's a little safe for us to have them around :)
you can be oh so smart, or you can be oh so positive. I wasted a lot of time being smart I prefer being positive. |
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Garden_artist
True Blue Farmgirl
182 Posts
Tammy
Southern Coast Oregon
182 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2006 : 09:50:57 AM
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I sat in my garden, examining each plant for about a week. Removing any that I saw and tossing them to the chickens, boy were they happy (the chickens). The other thing I did was spray each plant with neem. It worked so good...
When I feel spring coming I have to plant or I’ll go crazy! |
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RobinB
Farmgirl in Training
32 Posts
Robin
Rockvale
Tennessee
USA
32 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2006 : 10:22:49 AM
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| I just bought some Neem concentrate last week. I think the dilution is 1Tbs. per 1 gallon of water or something like that. I wasn't sure if it would work for these big fat creatures. I used the neem for my beans, but am not sure if I can tell a difference yet. After I attacked the biggest worm with the strongest setting on my garden hose nozzle, it layed lifeless, wrapped around a big weed several feet away. I will definitely be out crawling around with the neem spray tomorrow (supposed to have storms this afternoon). You all are so helpful. Thank you so much!!!! |
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abbasgurl
True Blue Farmgirl
1262 Posts
Rhonda
USA
1262 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2006 : 11:39:30 PM
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OK, this is just so gross...but we go out with a sharp pair of garden shears & yup...just snip them in two! I feel no remorse either. The kids especially love to see the green goo that's inside. And we've done the chicken thing before too! The hens seem to think they're a real treat.
Rhonda
...and I will sing at the top of my lungs, and I will dance, even if I'm the only one! |
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sunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
4877 Posts
Wendy
Utah
USA
4877 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2006 : 07:02:26 AM
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my grandfather use to go through his garden and pick them off the plants and just squish them under foot. He always said it was best to kill them outright and not wait for a bug spray as that could take a little bit of time to kill them and while theya re waiting to die thay are eating his plants. I just remember them being so big as a kid and disgusting when No-no ( Italian for grandpa) would squish them
have a lovely day |
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Garden Gate: Green Worms Ate My Tomato Plant |
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Green Worms Ate My Tomato Plant
