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Something is eating my tomatoes!
Alan Miller
Posts: 4
I'm really hoping someone can help here...
1st time tomato grower - I have three plants in the garden, one is doing really well. But; *there's always a 'but' isn't there?) something is eating away the growing toms. The holes are very 'clean looking' i.e. not ragged (so I'm discounting birds), and where some damage just touches the skin, some holes are quite deep.
I'd say I've lost about 20+ toms in the past week...
I'm guessing it's some kind of grub/spider? I can't see anything obvious and my concern is that what ever is eating is maybe doing so from inside the fruit - my questions are:
a) how to get rid of it (is there an easy way to do this?)
b) is the remaining (untouched) fruit safe to eat?
Thanks
0
Posts
Hi Alan,
I'm having the same issue; in my case it's tiny snails that are doing the damage. I've been picking my tomatoes just before fully ripe to try to get them first.
If snails are the culprits in your case as well, regularly check the undersides of leaves and fruit to remove the snails.
To check if the damage is starting from inside cut open one of the fruits. I would expect to see evidence of tunnelling. I reckon it's snails, though!
Best of luck,
Another possibility is caterpillars of the tomato moth (Bright-line Brown-eye moth):
http://www.getseedy.co.uk/2011/08/hands-off-my-tomatoes/
They are experts at hiding and the only real remedy is to pick them off by hand - if you can find them! They tend to hide along supports and string and are mainly nocturnal.
I've had caterpillars from a moth eating my toms, they eat both red and green toms.. The caterpillars aren't unlike cabbage white one's. Keep checking the leaves but also but some white paper around the base of your plant and give the plant a shake, the caterpillars should drop off onto the paper.
If you are growing in a GH, at the end of the growing season take all plants out, close all doors and vents and use one of those smoke bombs, not sure what their real name is, that should clear any nasties in there and any thing over wintering.
Sounds like caterpillars. Bob's right, they're nocturnal. Go out at night with a torch and examine all over the plant, especially underneath the leaves. Pick them off and squish 'em. An excellent organic spray against caterpillars and their ilk is DiPel, derived from Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally-occurring soil bacteria. You just have to remember to spray both sides of the leaves.
I'm guessing it's stink bugs or caterpillars. Stink bugs are not picky eaters and they're increasing in numbers fast. although they've only been in the uk for two years. They're a brown shield shape. sprays can be used or look at buying or attracting their natural predators
HiAll,
Many thanks for your replies.
I spent a few minutes in the garden last night with a torch, and sure enough, I found 2 caterpillars in among the foliage.
No further tomato damage this morning, so hopefully now sorted. Will keep an eye on things though!
Thanks again.
Well done Alan. I get these almost every year, the little devils!