I need some advice on how to make my tomato plants grow tomatoes. They’re growing but not producing anything. I’ve also seen this caterpillar crawling on them. Does anyone know what type of caterpillar this is? I’m pretty sure it’s the thing that’s creating white lines all over my leaves.
by numnumbunny
11 Comments
Looks like a yellow striped army worm(moth). They will dine on your plants.
Cut the suckers
The white lines are from leaf miners. The same organic chemical, BT, that takes care of hornworms and grasshoppers generally helps with all other pesties that dine on the plant.
What are you fertilizing with, if anything? At this stage it should be setting fruit, especially if its stressed from being snacked on. Possibly too high nitrogen uptake.
Patience young grasshopper. Your plant has already set flowers and unless you live in a hellscape deprived of all insects, they will soon pollinate and turn into tomatoes.
Tomato’s need full sun as well
Does that area get full sun for at least part of the day?
They’ll tolerate some shade fairly well but I’m not sure if part-shade throughout the day would work so well?
Oh and yeah those caterpillars aren’t the best for your plants but at least they’re not tomato/tobacco hornworms! Be on the lookout for those jerks – they will devour entire plants in short order!
Get rid of suckers.
Trim bottom foliage for airflow.
Mulch.
Relax and enjoy, because I see flowers and that means you’re getting tomatoes soon!
You have a lot of leaf miners get some beneficial insects
It can help aid pollination if you’re short on pollinators to give the branches with flowers an occasional light shake to distribute pollen. In a field situation there’s usually enough knocking about from handling and wind, but in a backyard setting, pampered plants could benefit from the assist.
Day length cases flowers to form.
Temperature too hot or cold, can’t pollinate. Weather too wet, can’t pollinate. Weather too dry, can’t pollinate.
Generally, the first ripening fruit is at the bottom of the plant, from the first formed flowers. First fruit may not be as flavorful as later fruit.
Any exposure to cold temperatures will impact flavor and production.
Fruit left on the vine to ripen is visible to thirsty birds. And it will split (if the variety is prone to cracking), if heavy rain comes.