Hey guys,
I just happened to be walking in the yard and found my first hornworm on my worthless tomato plants. I thought he was beautiful. I then found one more. I have no plans to kill the beauty as the tomato plants are not producing at all. My question is, is it worth bringing them in and raising and i so how to do it? I know the wasps get them sometimes and I do not want that to happen.
Any help always appreciated.
Thanks,
Leslie
Hi Leslie!
I grew tomatoes just for the hornworms and never saw a one :(
You can raise them, when they seem ready to pupate just put a few inches of new potting soil and they will burrow down a bit and probably overwinter there and emerge in the spring. Can you give the cage the same temps as outdoors? otherwise he may emerge in 2 - 4 weeks and he wouldn't survive due to the cold temps.
Good luck, I love them too!
Thanks flygirl. I don't want to try that as it sounds too dangerous. And besides, when I went out Sunday my young men were gone. So hopefully they dug in and I will see them next spring. I do plan on planting more tomato plants next year just for them though. They are awesome.
Thanks again.
Leslie
Leslie, if you have the Datura, it likes that plant too. It may offer more food than the tomato plant. I wouldn't try to raise it myself, but then I haven't ever tried it. Moths are too slow for me.
Afraid I don't have any Datura. I hear everyone talking about it but have not tried growing that yet. Thanks though.
Leslie
