cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/17588319
[Image description: a thicc green hornworm hanging onto the stem of a tomato plant. The hornworm is speckled with little white dots, has eyespots and angular white stripes down his side, and the namesake sharp little spike of a horn on its butt.]
Shit that’s rough, is it localized to just you? Or do your neighbors get it as well?
Hard to judge, as not one of my next door neighbors is interested in gardening, despite my efforts at offering seeds/seedlings/help.
I haven't gotten to really connect with any gardening groups in my area, but the handful of folks I have talked to also have problems with spider mites, though not sure if to quite such a severe degree.
Hrmm I’ve heard skipping a season if they’re really bad can be a potential solution, I know it’s tough to not plant anything, but if it’s one year and it makes the rest better instead of a constant struggle. Maybe worth a try?
Yeah... the thought has crossed my mind, even though tomatoes are my absolute favorite thing to grow. If I knew for sure it'd really reduce the population, I could probably convince myself, but how sad would it be to have a tomatoless year just to have the mites back in full force the next. 😕
Grow indoors one year? You probably spend close to the same amount in remediation as you could get a light and a tent if the light bleeds an issue.
I’ve experimented with some veggies in my aeroponics system, but soil works too.
My understanding is the point is to make them want to go somewhere else and nest for the winter or whatever they do. They stay since they know they get fed every year.