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How long does it take before a caterpillar leaves a tomato plant

Simone_in_WiltshireSimone_in_Wiltshire Posts: 1,073
in Wildlife gardening
I feel exhausted from this summer and would like to take out the tomato plants if there were not the caterpillars.
I have harvested around 20kg so far, and the next 3 or 4kg will be picked today.
The rest should stay for the caterpillars.
Normally, I would take out the plants so or so mid September, but with the hosepipe ban now, and honestly, we can't see any more tomatoes. I don't want to waste water for something that goes sooner or later so or so.

Thanks in advance

I ♥ my garden.

Posts

  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    The time it takes for your toe to kiss its backside, I would say!
    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    What sort of caterpillar?  Never had caterpillars on our tomatoes. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    The Bright-line Brown-eye moth caterpillar is the only one I know that likes tomatoes. There could be others though.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • Simone_in_WiltshireSimone_in_Wiltshire Posts: 1,073
    Indeed, there is the brown eye but also green one (or more than one, but not as many as last year)

    I ♥ my garden.

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    You could pull them up and heel them in somewhere out of sight. Just water them in and let them get on with it.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Simone_in_WiltshireSimone_in_Wiltshire Posts: 1,073
    Hi to all 
    working time is finally over after 10 hours and the long weekend is in front of us. 

    Background for my question was that I can find many entries about the brown eye moth and caterpillar but no website says how long it takes to be a caterpillar and then a larvae and finally a moth. 
    I will go through my tomato plant jungle and have look for larvae and caterpillars. 
    I also found the information that they normally lay the eggs in May/June but the ones in September/October are a second batch. 

    I ♥ my garden.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I would agree with Loxley


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Simone_in_WiltshireSimone_in_Wiltshire Posts: 1,073
    Thanks @nutcutlet, for your opinion. I’m back from the garden and took the last toms. I discovered one brown eye. 
    @Loxley I will take them out over the weekend and take care that the caterpillars survive. 

    I ♥ my garden.

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