How can I prevent an hornworm attach? Does planting borage or peppermint help?
Thanks
Re: The Dreaded Hornworms
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2025 6:02 pm
by karstopography
Look for the eggs. Remove the eggs before they hatch. If the eggs hatch, use something like Bt or spinosad per the label to kill the caterpillars. In my experience, these extracts will absolutely eliminate current hornworm infestations, but won’t prevent future infestations.
Re: The Dreaded Hornworms
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2025 7:04 pm
by worth1
Netting will help as well.
The darned things seem to grow overnight.
Re: The Dreaded Hornworms
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2025 7:18 pm
by tyrupp
hunt them down after dark with a black light
Re: The Dreaded Hornworms
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2025 7:42 pm
by Shule
Move to SW Idaho. I saw a hornworm here once, as a child. I thought it was awesome. I do see big moths that in theory could come from hornworms (they love Phlox), but I don't see the actual caterpillars anywhere, and we grow lots of tomatoes. Maybe it's just my garden.
Seriously, though, you probably don't want to move here just to grow tomatoes (you'd have to learn how to tomato garden all over again, and you might end up getting hornworms anyway).
Nothing to add on preventing them, only had an issue once. Just wanted to share my picture
IMG_2539.png
Re: The Dreaded Hornworms
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2025 4:40 am
by AdrianaG
Keep a daily watch out for their poop which is almost pea size and pick them off.
Re: The Dreaded Hornworms
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2025 10:43 am
by MissS
Shule wrote: ↑Mon Mar 24, 2025 7:42 pm
Move to SW Idaho. I saw a hornworm here once, as a child. I thought it was awesome. I do see big moths that in theory could come from hornworms (they love Phlox), but I don't see the actual caterpillars anywhere, and we grow lots of tomatoes. Maybe it's just my garden.
Seriously, though, you probably don't want to move here just to grow tomatoes (you'd have to learn how to tomato garden all over again, and you might end up getting hornworms anyway).
Shule the moths that you are most likely seeing are the white-lined sphynx moth or the P. Modesta. Neither of these would be feeding in your garden other than to use flowers for nectar.
Re: The Dreaded Hornworms
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 8:13 am
by GoDawgs
karstopography wrote: ↑Mon Mar 24, 2025 6:02 pm
Look for the eggs. Remove the eggs before they hatch. If the eggs hatch, use something like Bt or spinosad per the label to kill the caterpillars. In my experience, these extracts will absolutely eliminate current hornworm infestations, but won’t prevent future infestations.
I agree. I've never used spinosad but the bT works wonders. Around here the hornworms usually show up in June so in late May I usually do a bT application on the tomatoes and that seems to work pretty well. When one finally does show up later, one more app usually takes care of it for the season.
Re: The Dreaded Hornworms
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 10:37 am
by worth1
Each horn worm has its plant that it eats more or less.
We have one that eats a wild vine down here doesn't bother anything else.
Re: The Dreaded Hornworms
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 10:40 am
by worth1
Here's the difference between the tobacco hornworm and the tomato hornworm.
Re: The Dreaded Hornworms
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 12:46 pm
by karstopography
Only one we get on the tomatoes or peppers here are the Tobacco Hornworms. Never seen a Tomato Hornworm.
Re: The Dreaded Hornworms
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 6:20 pm
by worth1
That's all I've ever seen as well.
The dreaded tobacco hornworm on tomato plants.