Tomato hornworm population explosion
 

Hornworms have always been a minor problem in our garden, but not this
year! In the past three days we "harvested" more than 60 of these
hungry caterpillars. We found only two which were "decorated" with
parasitic braconid wasp cocoons, and left them alone.

In recent years there has always been an insect pest which caused
substantial damage to our tomatoes and/or eggplants. Three years ago
it was flea beetles. Two years ago it was Colorado Potato beetles.
Last year it was striped blister beetles. This year it is hornworms.
What will it be next year? A plague of locusts?

Daniel B. Martin

Tomato hornworm population explosion
 

On Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:16:27 -0400 in Daniel B. Martin wrote:
What will it be next year? A plague of locusts?

Woodchucks.

I lost this year's winter squash crop to squashbugs.
Tomatoes were probably lost to a lack of calcium.
Melons were lost to the woodchuck.
I'm thinking that I need to augment the deer fencing with
something that'll keep a 70lb dog in and put up a tarp and an
automatic watering dish and let the dogs enjoy some time in the
garden next summer.
Plus I need to reinforce the bottom of the fence anyways
so i can feel a little more confident the ducks won't escape.

Daniel B. Martin