Tomatoe Help Please...

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Guys,
Would anyone have any ideas what is boring holes in my tomatoes ? This is a little garden at my Ct home.

I only have a few different types of vegetables in this garden other than the tomatoes, pole beans, yellow squash, zuchini, green peppers and cukes. That probablly doesnt make any difference but I thought I would mention it.

Whatever is doing the damage is not getting every tomatoe. And it only seems to be bothering the ripe tomatoes ! I have cut some tomatoes open and havent found anything yet, so am looking for suggestions and what I might use as a spray or powder to eliminate the pest !

I have even started picking some of the tomatoes that are not totally ripe so as not to get holes bored in them !

Thanks for any help !

 

[DocHeb]

Slugs or snails will do that. Moisten the ground, put a 12" x 12" piece of wood or wet carpet down. The next day there will be slugs underneath it if they are in the area. To get even, bury pie tins in the soil so that they are level with the ground and put 1/2" of beer in the pan. Next morning - dead drunk snails.

Pheasants and birds will poke holes to get water in really dry areas.

 

[mjarrels]

Green tomato horn worms... ugly things. A good dusting with seven will fix the problem.

mark

 

[DocHeb]

As you said, the green tomato horn worms will do that also. There usually is significant amount of recent growth leaves disappearing at the same time.

 

[NSBound]

Tomato hornworm caterpillar. They're disgusting looking things, always used to freak my mother out. Seven is good. Lots of pics on google images.

 

[scott_vt]

Slugs or snails will do that. .

Good Afternoon Doc,
As you know in the Northeast we have had nothing but rain ! Along with all that rain is a bumper crop of slugs, I think you may have the answer, I will pay closer attention and will try your suggestions ! Thanks !

 

[jinman]

I think you have your answer Scotty. I've been picking my tomatoes as they turn pink just to keep critters from munching them. I just counted 40 tomatoes in various stages of ripening. That's after giving away probably 20 more already. This morning when I picked one tomato that was nearly ripe, I noticed ants coming out around the stem. I opened the tomato and there was a mini-colony in there. They weren't on any of the other 18 tomatoes I picked, so I'm hoping this is not something I'll have to fight. If so, Sevin to the rescue!

 

[Egon]

When you plant the tomatoes put a tin can with each end cut out over the stem where it goes in the ground. That might keep slugs/snails out. Also prune back any leaves which will touch the ground.

In the spring spread some slug bait around several times. Use the kind that is friendly to animals and birds as some baits are very poisonous. By doing this you delay the development of a fine slug crop.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Guys,
Thanks for all the friendly suggestions !

Doc, you win the cigar today, I just went out to the garden and snapped this shot of one of the bad tomatoes laying on the ground ! Slug it is !

Now for a little prevention !

 

[CDsdad]

Sevin dust sprinkled on the ground around the plants will help stop the slugs, too. Helps with ants, also.