David Hare-Scott wrote:

"Trish Brown" wrote in message
...
David Hare-Scott wrote:

"Trish Brown" wrote in message
...
We've been eagerly watching our first-ever tomato crop for weeks!
Just today, we went out to check them and about half the fruit has
great big black holes in it. The tomatoes appear to have been
hollowed out by some creature, but I can't see anything suspicious
on the vines. Not only that, but the vines themselves seem to be
unwell. They're sort of darkened and wizened and greasy-looking.
What on earth could it be?

Snif! :-(

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Trish Brown {|:-}

Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Helothis (tomato worm)?

David


Hnnnnnhhhh! If it *is* werms (Heliothis, I mean), then what do I do? I
can't exactly suck 'em all out of the rotten tomatoes, can I? (Be
nice, now...) Do I spray? Get a biological agent? WMDs? Help! The kids
and I have been hanging out to eat our first home-grown tomatoes and
it looks like it might not happen!

Snif! :-(

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Trish Brown {|:-}

Newcastle, NSW, Australia

If it is them you are too late for those fruit. Once the grubs are in
the fruit it is ruined and killing them does nothing. Well you can cut
the bad bits out but it may not be worth it. You have to either keep the
moths away (mossie net) that lay the eggs or spray with an insecticide
before the grubs start to burrow. This is required the whole season,
spraying just once will make little difference if the moths are around.
You will find plenty of info and pictures on the web to help you decide
if it is heliothis and what you want to do.

David


Sigh... Thanks for that, David. I'll see what I can do. (Buggerit!) =:-0

--
Trish Brown {|:-}

Newcastle, NSW, Australia