Avoiding trouble when growing tomatoes in Florida can be challenging. While warm weather is conducive to growing tomatoes, it’s also the perfect climate for pests. From caterpillars to stink bugs, your tomato plant is prime eating for these beasts. NOT PRETTY–but don’t despair!
While these critters have it out for your plants, you can outsmart them. My favorite go-to pesticide for caterpillars and worms is Bt or Bacillus thuringiensis. You can buy this product as a spray or dusting powder to prevent worms from devouring your tomatoes. Personally, I prefer the dust. It works well and because I can “see” it on my plants, I know it’s actively working to deter pests.
You can always resort to good old-fashioned plucking for removal, but I prefer prevention. No gross green guts spurting out when you dispatch them. Yuck. And remember, “live your garden” by visiting every day. These guys can decimate a tomato plant within hours.
Of course, there’s always Mother Nature around to lend a helping hand (when she’s in the mood). Lately, the parasitic braconid wasps have been taking care of my tomato hornworms. If you see them, leave them be. They’ll handle the pest duties for you.
When planting/transplanting, don’t forget to add your Epsom salt and eggshells. This combo in the soil will help prevent blossom end rot. No one wants to see their beautiful tomatoes develop ugly black spots. It’s a lack of nutrients, specifically calcium uptake. Simply crush the eggshells and mix them with a teaspoon of Epsom salt and work into the soil around the base of your plant. Trust me, I might discover the occasional worm on my tomatoes, but I never see rot spots on my fruit.
Why do we go to the trouble to grow tomatoes if they experience so many troubles? Simply put, they’re gorgeous and delicious.
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