Here’s a link to inspiring gardening philosophy and clear examples from my friend, Lenora Larson, The Butterfly Lady from her “Butterflies in Our World” Series: In Praise of Tomato Hornworms. Helpful hint: to move them, cut off the leaf they are on if possible, because they hang on so tight, sometimes you will pull their prolegs off! They are like suction cups!Ĭall this area your “pollinator garden” and let the caterpillars eat away! Pick those caterpillars off the “good” tomato plants and move them over into another less maintained area in your backyard away from your garden and where you have planted some extra tomato plants or thrown some tomato seeds, along with other sacrificial plants in the nightshade family. Ironically, the best thing that you can do to control tomato hornworms is to create habitat for them on the other side of your yard. So what is the compassionate, nature-connected solution for dealing with tomato hornworms to keep your tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes healthy so that you and your family can enjoy the bounty of your garden? They eat other plants in the nightshade family too including peppers, eggplants, and potatoes. They eat the leaves on your tomato plants and, of course, reduce your production of tomatoes. That may sound a little crazy considering you probably already know that tomato hornworms (and the related caterpillar, tobacco hornworms) can be really destructive! Solution #1: Plant a sacrificial garden just for the hornworms The Tomato Hornworm: Friend or Foe?Īnd you may find this information from National Moth Week to be really helpful too. Have you ever wished you had an easy answer for how to control hornworms in your prized vegetable garden?īefore you jump to the solutions, I recommend that you read this quick article from Dave’s Garden to learn more about the hornworm. Solution #3: Bring them inside & raise them.Solution #2: Repel them with companion plants.

Solution #1: Plant a sacrificial garden just for the hornworms.Tobacco Hornworm Image credit: Lenora Larson

Download tomato horn worms