What is eating my tomato plants?

Question

I have several tomato plants. They were blooming like crazy until a few weeks ago and then they stopped. Upon further inspection I noticed the flowers (and now some of the leaves) are being eaten. I have chicken wire around the plants and the affected areas are a good 4 feet off the ground, so I'm discounting smaller rodents. I also do not have deer in the area. Birds maybe? Does anyone know what could be the problem, and how I can resolve it?

Answer 1

It could be a number of pests...grasshoppers, leaf hoppers, tomato horn worm, etc. You will need to spray your plants. Any product containing Sevin. Look for one for vegi-s. Read carefully on the label as for time you can spray and the time you can harvest. Once you have them under control, a weekly spray of a mild soapy water will help to detour unwanted pests. Just a few drops of liquid dish soap in a spray bottle of water. Sounds like you are doing everything right! keeping the plant off the ground, and good air circulation is very important. Also a feed just for tomatoes will help revive and get you back to a good yield.
Heres a tip from an old lady...for the tastiest tomatoes, pull back on the water after you plant fruits are set. Wait until they almost droop. This causes all the sugars to form in the tomato giving a great tasting fruit. Too much water can cause the tomatoes to split and make them watery and tasteless. If you are having any trouble with pollination after your spray with sevin (which sometimes happens) spray a little sugar water on the blossoms...the bees love it and they will return to do their job.
God Bless
Grandma

Answer 2

Sounds like an insect problem. I use a dust (fungicidal and pesticidal combined) on my tomato plants. I find it works better as the dust coats underneath the leaves too, which is where most of the critters hide. Get it undercontrol soon, as they can kill a plant quickly! I got my dust at home depot, and apply once every 2 weeks, or sooner if I start to see more bugs! Good luck!

Answer 3

Tomato Worms

Answer 4

It sounds like your having an insect problem. There is a tomato moth that like to eat the plants. Try planting Marigolds with your tomatoes. It deters the insects. Good Luck!

Answer 5

You will have to look long & hard. You probably have a tomato worm. They are very disgusting. Long, fat green things that are the same color as the plant, that's why they are so hard to find. You could have more than one. When you find it get something or someone brave to pull it off & squeesh it. That's what it sounds like to me. Good luck !

Answer 6

this sounds to be like earwigs or tomato worms look llook close the the vines see itf there are any green tomatowarms on the stacks if not is is most likly erawigs. you can get a dust or powder at the garden shop to take care of it good luck.

Answer 7

Ok it is most likely a Tomato worm lol. they eat all the leaves off the plants fast. Only way to get rid of him or them is to find them and kill them by hand or foot lol.
It will be a green worm about two inches long, bout size of one of you fingers lol. Pluck him off when found and step on him lmao. You got to look real real close to find him he is well concealed.

Answer 8

Look for tomato hornworms: Large pretty green caterpillars with ravenous appetites.

Answer 9

Could be potato beatles. They do eat tomoto plants. Check around for small, striped beatle looking bugs.

Answer 10

probably bugs. It doesn't matter what kind--try using seven. Seven is safe on food when it is washed off. read the directions.

Also I'm pretty sure seven is safe on the environment, like chlorine, it goes away.