What is happening to my maters?

[jasonw]

I'm new at this. Trying to do some urban gardening on the deck. Looks like something is eating my plant. What say the experts?

Also tried some jalapeno. Leaves are wilting.

tomatos.jpg

[Zephyr]

Yes. Most likely was one of those big green ugly caterpillars called a tomato hornworm. If you don't find them and pick them off quickly, they'll eat a whole plant like that.

[Baggy]

That's it. You can see the droppings on the ground.

[jasonw]

Yes. Most likely was one of those big green ugly caterpillars called a tomato hornworm. If you don't find them and pick them off quickly, they'll eat a whole plant like that.

Seems like I would have noticed something like that. I just haven't seen anything like that. I just looked at it again and don't see anything like that. But one of the tomatoes is almost eaten in half.

[jasonw]

That's it. You can see the droppings on the ground.

Is this plant toast or will it come back? Are these things nocturnal?

[Duck cutter]

Completely nocturnal, you will need a license and tags and also will need to inform DNR of the hunters and dates when you will be night hunting for them.

Good luck!

[jasonw]

Completely nocturnal, you will need a license and tags and also will need to inform DNR of the hunters and dates when you will be night hunting for them.

Good luck!

Tags are on my dashboard in the truck.

[Cottontop74]

That motha fuka is on there somewhere.....get your bifocals out.

[JBK]

Better make sure all children have dry shoes before you start your hunt. Also I would threaten death to anyone who drinks a victory beer before you return.

[turbo]

It's definitely army worms on cocaine.

[jasonw]

Farming is hard work.

[turbo]

It's much harder when you do it in pots.

[Highstrung]

That plant is just unfucking happy.

[jasonw]

It's much harder when you do it in pots.

The sealoflex was too tough to plant in...

[turbo]

Good point.

[Timsmith]

Get some hardware clothe and wrap . Problem solved.

[JOHNSON]

G

[shoooooots]

well at least there's good fishing behind ur urban garden!

[SaltMuck]

Cottontop told ya about the army worms and you didn't listen.

For real the hornworms got ya. They are sneaky little jokers and will destroy a mater plant in a hurry. I check my plants daily starting in June and look for cut leaves. They'll be close by on a stem if there's a little damage but will move around as they eat the plant. Pick all you can off and spray down the plant with liquid Seven. Seven in dust is ok but liquid can really get good coverage. Fwiw, growing tomatoes is kinda like turkey hunting. A lot of reward but it requires thinking and a lot can go wrong. Better luck next year.

[DoubleSprig]

this is the time of year when they hit the hardest.
Hornworm with 100% certainty. probably about as fat as a sharpie marker by now and 3" long