An animal is eating the leaves and stem of my tomato plants starting at the top of the plant. Some branches were 3-4 feet long. I noticed it yesterday and put deer and rabbit Scram 18 inches out from the base of plants. I checked them this morning. Still had the problem.
Deer and rabbits are usually easy to keep at bay. I did not see any telltale footprints. The plants were very high, now they look amputated. There is no attack at the lower level of the plant. Help!
Thanks.
Hardiness Zone: 8a
By Diane Edwards from Roswell, GA
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I had a similar problem last year and I found a horned worm on one plant. It will eat the tops of your plant, I guess it likes the new growth. The are big, but hard to see, they blend in. That might be your problem.
It is almost certainly a tomato hornworm or a tobacco hornworm. They are closely related and behave exactly as you describe. They grow to be huge, long and fat. They are the same color green as the plant and are often very hard to see. They feed most often at night and early morning and if you can't find them, they might have gone under the loose soil in the heat of the day.
It also could be a groundhog. They have been eating all my tomatoes too. They nibble on tops and continue till there is only a stem with no leaves on it. I'm still trying to find out how to stop them.
I had a similar problem. For the previous 3 years I could never grow peas. As soon as their height would reach the fence (about 4inches) rabbits would nibble them down to the ground. I never minded them (it looked like the entire bunny family, Papa, Mama, and their kids) grazing through my lettuces or spinach. In fact, what a sweet site to watch. I felt blessed and honored. But when it came to the peas, I didn't like them so much.
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