The "tomatoes on the porch" project is a fail, at least so far. While I did not have a single tomato hornworm on the tomatoes in the raised beds, they have had a field day with the two plants on the porch. I have taken 4 of them off of the plants just this week. This one is from today.
In other news, my son and future daughter-in-law are coming this weekend for 4 days to visit from Ft. Campbell. This will probably be the last time I see him before he goes to Afghanistan.
Well, that's all the time I have. Will try to get on this weekend and post something but we may be a bit busy. My future daughter-in-law is wanting to learn to can :)
Oh, I do hope you didn't squish that hornworm. Those little white sacks look like eggs from a parasitic wasp. The worm was as good as dead already. I would be ecstatic to find hornworm like that because it means you've got good bugs in your garden.
ReplyDeleteJudy
I did not know that is what those were. I usually feed the hornworms to the birds. If find a lot of them with the eggs on them but that is the first one this year.
DeleteI always leave the ones that have the wasp eggs on. They don't last long anyway. Usually by the time I find them they are mostly dead. There don't seem to be many of them at this house though. My last house had lots of nasty hornworms.
ReplyDeleteBut doesn't leaving them mean you'll have a lot of wasps?
ReplyDeleteGood point. I'd like to know too since we have a lot of wasps here already.
DeleteWasps are our friends as long as the don't build nests in places that I need to use. I was surprised at all the pests they control. Really good for aphids.
ReplyDeleteDon't you love the long lazy summer days. It has been hot, hot and hot this year.
Well, they build them in the front bushes which grow like weeds and are needing a serious hair cut BUT...there are wasps in them.
DeleteHi Becky,
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your troubles with the porch tomatoes. Luckily here in the UK we don’t have hornworms- thank goodness...
Unfortunately the squirrels are the major problem where we live and as such can’t grow tomatoes outside without squirrel proof protection...
Have a great time with the visit from your son and prospective daughter-in-law!!
I always find the difference between your squirrels and our weird. It is like they have totally different personalities. Our squirrels never go after the tomatoes.
DeleteI had one of them critters though not playing host to the wasp larvae. Enjoy you visit!
ReplyDeleteBecky I am so pleased to hear you have been asked to pass on some of your valuable homemaking knowledge to the next generation.
ReplyDeleteI was pleased too! We are going to make banana butter.
Deleteevery time i have tried to raise tomatoes on the deck/porch i get infested with hornworms so this year everything went into the raised beds-even those plants in big pots (sunk them into the raised beds and mulched right up to the pot rims) and guess what...no hornworms and lots of tomatoes. we have lots of wasps and "mud daubers" and yet they are just mere inconveniences. a good way to protect your veggie plants and produce from the critters (including deer, coons and squirrels) is to plant squash, cucumbers, okra and plants that have similar vines and leaves that are not pleasant to have touching skin. racoons and squirrels hate the feel of these vines and generally wont go near them-anyway, plant these plants on the perimeter of your gardens and they will help protect your other plants from being invaded and stolen.
ReplyDeletePerhaps I should have mulched the pots.
Deletebecky, from the looks of your potted tomato plants it looks like you also need to give them a good spray of calcium.
DeleteThe were perfectly green and lush before the hornworms. Are you saying that because of the one yellow leaf? I forgot to water for a couple days, it wilted and got a few yellow leaves that I just didn't bother to pick off. It was fine again after I watered.
DeleteHi Becky! Glad the Momma is hatching out babies! Hopefully, there'll be a lot more! I hope your dil will catch on quickly to canning! Sorry that your son will soon be in Afghanistan! Prayers he'll stay safe! Enjoy your visit! Blessings from Bama!
ReplyDeleteShe now has 3 ducklings, two black and yellow and one brown and yellow. I believe they may all be hers as she is brown and hatched from a mix of cayuga and pekin.
DeleteThey were going to send both of my sons there but somehow some of my youngest sons unit ended up getting to stay and he is one of them. My oldest is going for 9 months though :(
Well, she has managed to lose one duckling and kill the little brown one :( I'll just be hatching in the incubator from now on. I apparently can't duplicate the conditions she would need to keep her chicks safe.
DeleteThose wasps are braconid wasps. As far as I can find out, they do NOT sting. I grow yarrow just to attract these little helpers.
ReplyDeleteHi Becky! This has nothing to do with this post! I just ran across a blog, and she was all excited about an oil expellar she had purchased. It is a Piteba oil expellar, and I immediately thought of you! It's a little pricey, but might be something you'd be interested in since you have hazelnuts. You could get oil from them is this press. The name of the blog is homsteader kitchen . com. It was an interesting read. Hope you get a chance to check it out! Blessings from Bama!
ReplyDeleteI have seen those oil things. I want one! I'll check out the blog. Thanks!
Delete