Last year, I planted 4 different types of heirloom tomatoes, a total of about 60 plants. I had never grown tomatoes before, so I applied all the techniques I had picked up from this site and other reading. The plants were beautiful, fruit production was prolific. THEN, I started to notice that a number of my beautiful tomatoes had nasty holes in them. I cut one in half and found this disgusting creepy crawly thing inside. I took the whole mess to our local garden center where I was informed I had tomato fruitworm. They recommended spraying with BTK early in the season. Hence, my question(s). I realize that this pest comes from the egg of a moth that are laid on either the flower, or the fruit at its earliest stage of development (not sure which). At what point do I spray? How frequently should I spray? At what point is it safe to stop spraying? Do these moths just keep laying eggs throughout the whole growing season or is there a particular part of the summer where they lay more eggs ? I have two types of indeterminates and one determinate. Once again, thanks in advance for your advice, Jo-Ann
I would keep a close eye on your tomatoes and as soon as you see caterpillars, spray with BTK. There is not point in spraying unless the caterpillars are feeding. Good luck!
I have never had the tomato fruit worm. It sure appears to be a nasty. In fact, almost nothing attacks my tomato plants, touch wood.
