"Tomato hornworms can destroy a tomato plant basically overnight. The simplest option is to remove them by hand. Once removed, you can drop them into soapy water."
"Companion crops like basil and borage will deter hornworms. You can also plant flowering tobacco or dill as trap crops, which will attract them more strongly than tomatoes."
"Leaving tomato hornworms so they can be preyed on by parasitic wasps is a natural solution. These wasps are also pollinators, so if you have them around, they can help your garden thrive."
"You could also use ladybugs, which prey on not just hornworm eggs but many other pests."
Tomato hornworms are large caterpillars that can quickly destroy tomato plants. Manual removal is effective but challenging due to their camouflage. Identifying their droppings can help locate them. Using a black light at night can also reveal their presence. Companion planting with crops like basil and borage can deter hornworms, while trap crops like flowering tobacco attract them away from tomatoes. Natural predators, such as parasitic wasps and ladybugs, can help control hornworm populations without pesticides.
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