Me too! I found 33 in one day. That was about 3-4days ago. Now my plant has an infection that spread on all the leaves. I think it was the worm poop. Those things are no joke
I have been growing tomatoes for yrs and never once found a hornworm until this year! I too, thought squirrels got into the garden until I touched one when reaching to grab a tomato. I screamed so loud that the neighbors came running to check on me........ Thanks for the tip on the basil
It doesn't work for me. I use B.T. which is a harmless bacteria(safe for organic gardening) which only affects hornworms and caterpillers,but is harmless for everything else. It's the only thing that I've seen work. Plus tomatoes don't like growing next to basil
@@SeverusSnape12345I’ve been looking for him for a few days now, using the UG light too. I still haven’t found him. It breaks my heart, all this hard work baby sitting and there’s a thief in the camp😢
I planted a ton of basil around all of my tomato plants this year and still got hornworms. Unfortunately this method doesn’t work for me but I will still plant them together because I love the scent of basil throughout my garden!
Same. Basil and marigold’s. However, last year a handful of hornworms had parasitic wasps lay their eggs under the hornworm’s skin and the larvae burrowed out and spun little white personal cocoons on the hornworm’s back. The hornworm is basically dead at that point but I left them in place with the hope that I would have even more parasitic wasps to control the hornworm population this year. It seems to have worked. I picked off about a dozen moderate sized hornworms a few weeks ago. But since then there have been about a dozen hornworms that parasitic wasps took over and spun the little white cocoons on the back of the hornworm. Using a black light that makes hornworms stand out and practically glow and night, I have only seen hornworms that have been stymied with the cocoons on their back. And none of even those hornworms were full sized adults. They got caught early! Use Mother Nature’s diversity of predators.
Plant the basil WEEKS BEFORE you plant the tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. That way, they're larger and more aromatic by the time momma moth flies around to drop her eggs.
I've always planted Basil with my tomatoes. Recently I heard that the hornworm moth doesn't like the smell of Thyme either. Haven't tried it but next year I'll add that in with the Basil. I use a lot of Thyme, so it'll be another good place to plant more of it.
I’ll blame this years brutal and early heat for many issues in my garden, including hornworm. I always keep basil by my tomatoes and it always deters hornworm, but not this year. Thankfully it hasn’t been a huge problem, a little bT took care of the outbreaks. Btw, that’s some good looking butternut behind ya, powdery mildew aside.. This year is my first attempt at growing them vertically like that. They are hard to train upwards, but are growing well.
Totally agree. I have basal near all of my tomatoes and zero tomato worms. I had tomato worms prior years because I did not associate basil with them. Thanks for letting me know about the tomato worm going for the pepper plants, did not realize that would also happen. Companion planting!
I plant basil,green , purple,and mint in little pots,around my tomato plants this year. The Japanese beetles love to munch on the green basil,not on the purple and mints.So far so good,no sign of horn worm. Will keep you posted later . Thanks for your tip earlier of the year.
Cool! I guess I won't change what I'm doing then. This year I have 3 bushy Genovese basil plants amongst two Sun Sugar (Sun Gold type) cherry tomatoes and two Cherokee Purple plants as well as two eggplant plants in a raised bed and I haven't seen any signs of any tomato hornworms or the giant moths wanting to lay hornworm eggs on them all season. I even have another Sun Sugar cherry plant in a grow bag with only another tiny basil plant in a 4 inch container next to it and I haven't seen any hornworms on that either.
Okay…I have recently found 3 tomato horn worms on my tomato plants (I have 2 tomato plants, an indeterminate and a cherry). I have 5 Basil plants planted around the tomatoes. Everything was fine until the plants got above the porch railing that’s supporting them then the worms attacked. Early on I had found 2 horn worms on the eggplants, but once the Basil took off they haven’t been back. I’ve enjoyed every one of your videos. Glad to hear that generally all is going well on the homestead.
I couldn’t agree more! In my garden, I grow African Blue Basil, Borage, and Queen Anne’s Lace and ever since I started incorporating those plants into my garden, I haven’t seen any pests whatsoever. However, I do see tons of beneficial insects and pollinators.
Experienced that same thing and of course pepper planted in pot with no basil. Pepper plant coming back. Peppers challenge this year. In zone 5. Plants got all kinds of blooms but plant small and peppers too, so picked off peppers, and blooms. Now weather is cooling down in mid 50's at night and now for next 10 days 70-83* during day. Not looming looking like I will get any peppers this year. Tomatoes just beginning to turn red, and usually turning by 3rd week in July. Carrots, only 3 sprouted out of lots, trying second time now. Garden looks good but challenging.
WONDERFUL! I have about 45 tomato plants growing right now and have only seen one hornworm this year. I have sweet, lemon, and cinnamon basil sprinkled though out.
Thanks, Brian, I have had a similar experience. Last year and this year, I followed your recommendation to plant badil. I added as many basil plants as I did tomato plants, using both green and purple varieties. No worms since I started that practice. p.s. I also plant a lot of parsley for swallowtail butterflies.
@@focused40 ...They are close. My beds are 4x8 feet with a trellis/string system similar to Brian's. Imagine 4 rows 8 feet long. I plant 12 tomatoes in the 2 center rows (6 in each row). Then I plant basil and parsley alternating them along the two outer rows. My overall conditions may be different than yours, though. I wish you good luck.
Thanks Brian, I happen to be growing some in one of my container gardens I created for a Pizza garden, hopefully I have the same success here in Zone 8a in Middle GA. It's sweet basil, and I hope the type doesn't matter much to the dreaded hornworm.
My two large tomato plants were beset with massive, munching hornworms this year - as big as my fingers, and beautiful in a horror movie kind of way - but I want to encourage the sphinx moths that they turn into, because they are excellent pollinators. So I am going to always keep two sacrificial tomato plants in this location, keep my basil around my tomatoes and peppers in my other beds, and if I find any hornworms in the "good" beds, I will pick them off and move them over to the sacrificial plants. While wearing gloves. I'm not easily spooked, but they are just so meaty...and all those false eyes down the sides...and the drawstring-looking mouth...and that horn....I don't care if they are harmless, they're just creepy. 🐛🐛🐛🍅🍅🍅
I've been planting a lot of new-to-me varieties of basil. Greek mini, purple opal, lettuce leaf, spicy saber, lime and lemon. I hope all of these work to keep them away. I've only had one hornworm but he ate 80% of the plant before I discovered him.
That has been my experience. Neither marigolds or basil plants stopped hornworms from eating my tomato plants and decimating 75% of my pepper pods last year. I planted peppers, basil and marigolds this year. No tomatoes - no hornworms.
I'm not a basil user but I like the smell in the garden and it's almost among everything cause they flower bees love it and the seeds fall and they just keep coming back. Now I know why there were no worms on my peppers and tomatoes. Thanks for the info. Keep up the good work.
I to plant basil with my pepper and tomatoes. However, I do have a few tomato worms but not many. I treat them the same way you do, pluck them off and squash-'em. Thanks for the info
Between white flies, late blight and caterpillars I had a bad run on my heirloom tomatoes and pepper. My basil got eaten by the caterpillars too, and my sunflowers, and now my catmint... good thing zone9b has 100+ days to frost I can try again. Time to apply BT.
Interesting! This year I got hornworms on my potatoes (no basil) and nothing on my tomatoes or peppers (basil interplanted). I’ll be planting a lot more basil in followings years!
Thank you so much. We just found this channel and we are subscribing and we have been having issues with those worms and now we know what to do. Thank you so much. Beautiful garden ❤
First year gardener and I had 15 hornworms. They totally stripped one of my tomato plants before I caught them. Will definitely be planting basil next year.
I love this in theory, but I recently plucked a tomato horn worm off a basil plant itself that was in with two tomato plants. I was surprised to see him in there because I’ve never had a problem with them until this year.
I found one of these in my pepper Garden yesterday for the first time in Four Seasons of growing pepper plants, and that thing had the entire top of one of my pepper plants eaten in less than 24 hours. I had never seen one of these before nor did I know what it was, all I knew is that thing was huge and its appetite was even bigger.
I planted 2 types basil next to my tomato, eggplant and pepper plants last year. The hornworms took big bites out of numerous peppers and ate leaves on plants. They ate tomato leaves. This year I decided not to plant tomato plants because they brought in hornworms. As of August, I haven’t seen any hornworms eating my peppers. I have been harvesting a lot of peppers and preserving them.
He's telling the truth whether some of yall believe it or not. This year I didn't plant basil next to my tomato plants and I've NEVER seen so many hornworms on my plants like this! I counted at least 12 and they decimated my plants. Years before I would plant basil next to them and I have seen 1 or 2 worms but never this many. So basil does deter them but not all of us have the same luck as NLG.
Good to know so I will not plant basil there. Every day at about sunup and again at about sundown I have a pair of cardinals go through my garden and they clean up any hornworms. This has been working for over 10 years and I do not want to loose them servicing my garden.
Agreed, but didn't realize could attack my peppers & I've planted several away from my basil & mint. I can move a mint in pot & lemon grass. Also, I'll start putting extra cut basil leafs around those peppers.
Thanks for the great tip about basil! Next year I'll plant lots of basil! I have had only one season when the horn worm appeared, and I promptly disposed of them.
I had tomato horn worms on my tomato plants this year, but was lucky that the parasitic wasps got to them and took care of the issue. I'll definitely be planting basil near the tomatoes next year though!
Grew really beautiful basil this year right against my interdimate tomatoes and found 3 horn worms. Bummer but I will grow basil with my tomatoes next year again.
I just picked off the granddaddy of all horn worms from one of my tomato plants. It was so large, that I cut the branch from the plant, and cast it out of the garden, into the gully of no return. Coincidently, I have basil and green onions growing as companion plants.
Needed basil planted next to some of my flowers (I call them miniature petunias) because I removed 12 hornworms from one plant! I don’t have chickens (HOA doesn’t allow them) so I squished them! Fortunately my plant made a comeback and is once again beautiful.
Doing same - commenting to affirm IT WORKS! - so far, huge plantings, no problems USE BASIL! plus you can keep it in check by clipping, hanging upside down (or other drying method) crumble put in jar (can freeze too - puree it - ice cube trays) and use instead of ever buying at the store again
My infestation of tomato horn worms where when my tomato plants were really tall and not close to the basil. It was time to cut back all the vines and start a new fall planting anyway, but I have a variety of basil seedlings growing with my tomato seedlings. I should be good to go!
I will keep this in mind for next season. For now my chickens get a treat when I pluck them! Gross to us but juicy snacks for chickens! Now how do I rid the grass hoppers???
Add poles 4 ft apart at the edge of your tomatoes. Tie rags to the poles and spray bug spray on the rags and the moths will stay away so you get no worms. BEEN WORKING FOR ME 4 YEATS.
Good afternoon,, Thanks for the video!! Wasn't sure just what kind of warm this was,, but I know now after watching your video!!! But believe it or not,, they guys are all over my olive trees!! I know these guys are hearty eater but, Oilve trees?? Have you ever heard of that?? Robert
I had forgotten that peppers were nightshades until one of my plants was eaten to the ground overnight by hornworms! Planning my garden for next year and I had already decided to grow tomatoes using the lower and lean method and to plant a lot of basil all around the base of the plants. I like the idea of different kinds of basil planting throughout the garden, especially for pollinators.
I have a lot of basil all over my garden, and every morning when I go check, all my basil has been chew up, I have no problem in my tomatoes this year so far, thanks to BT, however my basil and potatoes is a daily fight.
You are very fortunate. The only insect that I have found on my basil is Japanese beetles. They are usually on the blooms only this location. In my other raised beds, I planted basil throughout my garden. Insects gravitate toward my vegetable plants and do not touch the basil.
I'm a little north from you and have not had the same experience. I tend to get tobacco hornworms and wonder if that makes a difference. I would think that should matter. This doesn;t mean I won't plant basil around the garden because basils are so fun.
I have basil planted all around in my garden too. Didn't know I helped prevent hornworms, but I haven't had any in years. Good to know Tai Basil tastes like licorice, I will avoid that one lol
I've learned those tomatoes out there weren't for the bugs. Also something tells me you don't know how beneficial those tomatoes hornworms are well the moth version there fantastic pollinaters in the garden for night flowers.
“Saw one..then looked again, and saw 6-7 more.” I have had that happen, and it is super creepy. Trying dilute Castile soap spray, but will also give the basal co-planting a try.
Hey Brian. Just wanted to let you know that I have a garden filled with basil…sadly I also have killed 3 hornworms this morning. So basil may slow down the rate of infestations but there must be some other way to get rid of these monsters. I lost a beautiful tomato plant about 2 weeks ago and I’m convinced it was horn worm. 😭
Dang. I’ve never been able to grow tomatoes because the hornworms get to them, but I’ll have to try this. I might surround my tomatoes with a bunch of little pots like a basil guard 😅
I don’t know why but I’ve never had a horn worm in my garden. In all of the decades I’ve been gardening. I know I probably just jinxed myself but it’s true.
Didn't work for me. I planted basil in all my tomato beds this year and got hornworms in all of them. Picked off what worms I could find, then came out the next few nights with a UV flashlight I have and was surprised to see so many more. After about 3 nights of doing this and using an organic product you recommended (can't remember the name off top of my head), I haven't seen any more. But my basil plants in those beds are thriving.
So far no hornworms, I had planted Giant MARIGOLDS. Right now they are 3.5 ft tall and wide. Between each tomato but I have sun flowers patch few dalilahs and zenias too. But had had some japanese beetles.
I have Tie basil in my raised garden bed with tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. And YES yesterday I found 6 small tomato worms. I wonder if I need another basil plant? Humm
Brian, I totally agree on the Basil!! I also added Dill and Marigolds and not 1 horn worm anywhere! ALSO, Brian I won something from you last Fri, on my first Fall Garden, but I don't have a smart phone so I can't access telegram. How can I claim the prize that you so graciously are offering? Again loving your video's so full of great info! Blessings
One observation for this season so far Brian, aside of too many days of well over 100 degrees, grasshoppers totally decimate marigolds... and chew right through sweet basil along the way. -Bob...
I live in southern california and have grown both together and those Caterpillars have eaten my basil and tomatoes both. they eat the basil just as much as anything else
I had basil with my tomatoes, and 4 days ago I found 33 hornworms 😳. I had never seen one in my life and when I noticed 1 I found 32 more. And they were HUGE. They were on my peppers too
I made the mistake of planting the basil after the tomatoes, because the tomatoes grew faster earlier in the spring and needed to go in the ground first. As a result, the basil got shaded out and didn't grow very well. At least I don't get a lot of hornworms, as the only one I've ever seen was 3 years ago on one of my peppers. If you pick them off and throw them, the birds will finish the job for you.
I have several basil plants in my tomato bed and I am still dealing with tomato hornworms. The battle continues 😩
Me too. 😣
BT is organic and only kills caterpillars.
Me too! I found 33 in one day. That was about 3-4days ago. Now my plant has an infection that spread on all the leaves. I think it was the worm poop. Those things are no joke
I have NO hornworms! Try watering your basil "daily." The moisture brings out the heavy aroma of the basil.
@@sharonholmes2470 Its so hot where I live (zone 9b) that I pretty much have to water daily, but thank you for the suggestion 🙂
I have been growing tomatoes for yrs and never once found a hornworm until this year! I too, thought squirrels got into the garden until I touched one when reaching to grab a tomato. I screamed so loud that the neighbors came running to check on me........
Thanks for the tip on the basil
It doesn't work for me. I use B.T. which is a harmless bacteria(safe for organic gardening)
which only affects hornworms and caterpillers,but is harmless for everything else. It's the only thing that I've seen work.
Plus tomatoes don't like growing next to basil
Hahaha oh man you made me laugh.
@dr.malcolmgladstone1609 what's B.T and where do I find it?
@@SeverusSnape12345I’ve been looking for him for a few days now, using the UG light too. I still haven’t found him. It breaks my heart, all this hard work baby sitting and there’s a thief in the camp😢
Yes what is BT?
I planted a ton of basil around all of my tomato plants this year and still got hornworms. Unfortunately this method doesn’t work for me but I will still plant them together because I love the scent of basil throughout my garden!
Same. Basil and marigold’s. However, last year a handful of hornworms had parasitic wasps lay their eggs under the hornworm’s skin and the larvae burrowed out and spun little white personal cocoons on the hornworm’s back. The hornworm is basically dead at that point but I left them in place with the hope that I would have even more parasitic wasps to control the hornworm population this year.
It seems to have worked. I picked off about a dozen moderate sized hornworms a few weeks ago. But since then there have been about a dozen hornworms that parasitic wasps took over and spun the little white cocoons on the back of the hornworm. Using a black light that makes hornworms stand out and practically glow and night, I have only seen hornworms that have been stymied with the cocoons on their back. And none of even those hornworms were full sized adults. They got caught early!
Use Mother Nature’s diversity of predators.
Plant the basil WEEKS BEFORE you plant the tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. That way, they're larger and more aromatic by the time momma moth flies around to drop her eggs.
Same here. Basil and marigolds everywhere and hornworms too😡
@@eileensien514 That could make a difference. Thanks. Though, the parasitic wasps are working to keep them in check now
@@ttb1513 Black light? Can you see other bugs with it, like scale on citrus trees?
I've always planted Basil with my tomatoes. Recently I heard that the hornworm moth doesn't like the smell of Thyme either. Haven't tried it but next year I'll add that in with the Basil. I use a lot of Thyme, so it'll be another good place to plant more of it.
I’ll blame this years brutal and early heat for many issues in my garden, including hornworm. I always keep basil by my tomatoes and it always deters hornworm, but not this year. Thankfully it hasn’t been a huge problem, a little bT took care of the outbreaks.
Btw, that’s some good looking butternut behind ya, powdery mildew aside.. This year is my first attempt at growing them vertically like that. They are hard to train upwards, but are growing well.
I took your advise on this a few years ago and I have not had any hornworms since. THANK YOU!
Awesome!
Totally agree. I have basal near all of my tomatoes and zero tomato worms. I had tomato worms prior years because I did not associate basil with them. Thanks for letting me know about the tomato worm going for the pepper plants, did not realize that would also happen. Companion planting!
I plant basil,green , purple,and mint in little pots,around my tomato plants this year. The Japanese beetles love to munch on the green basil,not on the purple and mints.So far so good,no sign of horn worm. Will keep you posted later . Thanks for your tip earlier of the year.
Cool! I guess I won't change what I'm doing then. This year I have 3 bushy Genovese basil plants amongst two Sun Sugar (Sun Gold type) cherry tomatoes and two Cherokee Purple plants as well as two eggplant plants in a raised bed and I haven't seen any signs of any tomato hornworms or the giant moths wanting to lay hornworm eggs on them all season. I even have another Sun Sugar cherry plant in a grow bag with only another tiny basil plant in a 4 inch container next to it and I haven't seen any hornworms on that either.
I did not have a worm problem until I introduced a Lowes tomato plant into my garden.
Okay…I have recently found 3 tomato horn worms on my tomato plants (I have 2 tomato plants, an indeterminate and a cherry). I have 5 Basil plants planted around the tomatoes. Everything was fine until the plants got above the porch railing that’s supporting them then the worms attacked. Early on I had found 2 horn worms on the eggplants, but once the Basil took off they haven’t been back. I’ve enjoyed every one of your videos. Glad to hear that generally all is going well on the homestead.
I always have basil around the tomatoes but still have plenty of the worms on my tomatoes :( Maybe 1-2 won't work- I am off to buy quite a few more!
I couldn’t agree more! In my garden, I grow African Blue Basil, Borage, and Queen Anne’s Lace and ever since I started incorporating those plants into my garden, I haven’t seen any pests whatsoever. However, I do see tons of beneficial insects and pollinators.
Awesome!
Experienced that same thing and of course pepper planted in pot with no basil. Pepper plant coming back. Peppers challenge this year. In zone 5. Plants got all kinds of blooms but plant small and peppers too, so picked off peppers, and blooms. Now weather is cooling down in mid 50's at night and now for next 10 days 70-83* during day. Not looming looking like I will get any peppers this year. Tomatoes just beginning to turn red, and usually turning by 3rd week in July. Carrots, only 3 sprouted out of lots, trying second time now. Garden looks good but challenging.
I have a lot of basil, dill, borage, and garlic among my tomatoes and I have picked off a bunch of hornworms in the past two weeks.
WONDERFUL! I have about 45 tomato plants growing right now and have only seen one hornworm this year. I have sweet, lemon, and cinnamon basil sprinkled though out.
Awesome!
Thanks, Brian, I have had a similar experience. Last year and this year, I followed your recommendation to plant badil. I added as many basil plants as I did tomato plants, using both green and purple varieties. No worms since I started that practice. p.s. I also plant a lot of parsley for swallowtail butterflies.
How close to your tomatoes plants do you plant them? I have a basil plant in my garden bed with my tomatoes and still have found horn worms.
@@focused40 ...They are close. My beds are 4x8 feet with a trellis/string system similar to Brian's. Imagine 4 rows 8 feet long. I plant 12 tomatoes in the 2 center rows (6 in each row). Then I plant basil and parsley alternating them along the two outer rows. My overall conditions may be different than yours, though. I wish you good luck.
Great info! Tomato hornworms have been an issue for us late this season. Will definitely change where I grow basil from now on.
I plant marigolds and basil and still have many hornworms. These methods don’t work for me.
Thanks Brian, I happen to be growing some in one of my container gardens I created for a Pizza garden, hopefully I have the same success here in Zone 8a in Middle GA. It's sweet basil, and I hope the type doesn't matter much to the dreaded hornworm.
My two large tomato plants were beset with massive, munching hornworms this year - as big as my fingers, and beautiful in a horror movie kind of way - but I want to encourage the sphinx moths that they turn into, because they are excellent pollinators. So I am going to always keep two sacrificial tomato plants in this location, keep my basil around my tomatoes and peppers in my other beds, and if I find any hornworms in the "good" beds, I will pick them off and move them over to the sacrificial plants. While wearing gloves. I'm not easily spooked, but they are just so meaty...and all those false eyes down the sides...and the drawstring-looking mouth...and that horn....I don't care if they are harmless, they're just creepy. 🐛🐛🐛🍅🍅🍅
Tried your advice.
No hornworm this year.
Did find Swallowtail caterpillars on my parsley!
I've been planting a lot of new-to-me varieties of basil. Greek mini, purple opal, lettuce leaf, spicy saber, lime and lemon. I hope all of these work to keep them away. I've only had one hornworm but he ate 80% of the plant before I discovered him.
I still have a ton of hornworms that still eat tomato plants even with basil nearby. Good for you that it works for you.
That has been my experience. Neither marigolds or basil plants stopped hornworms from eating my tomato plants and decimating 75% of my pepper pods last year. I planted peppers, basil and marigolds this year. No tomatoes - no hornworms.
I'm not a basil user but I like the smell in the garden and it's almost among everything cause they flower bees love it and the seeds fall and they just keep coming back. Now I know why there were no worms on my peppers and tomatoes. Thanks for the info. Keep up the good work.
Absolutely correct. I planted based on your book and my tomatoes are awesome this year
Awesome!
I to plant basil with my pepper and tomatoes. However, I do have a few tomato worms but not many. I treat them the same way you do, pluck them off and squash-'em. Thanks for the info
I had hornworms on my tomatoes this year. I didn't buy basil plants this year but planted seeds, which did come up, lesson learned! LOL
Between white flies, late blight and caterpillars I had a bad run on my heirloom tomatoes and pepper. My basil got eaten by the caterpillars too, and my sunflowers, and now my catmint... good thing zone9b has 100+ days to frost I can try again. Time to apply BT.
Interesting! This year I got hornworms on my potatoes (no basil) and nothing on my tomatoes or peppers (basil interplanted). I’ll be planting a lot more basil in followings years!
Thank you so much. We just found this channel and we are subscribing and we have been having issues with those worms and now we know what to do. Thank you so much. Beautiful garden ❤
First year gardener and I had 15 hornworms. They totally stripped one of my tomato plants before I caught them. Will definitely be planting basil next year.
It’s working for me! Thanks for the video! Curiously, the corner of my garden without basil has some worms.
I love this in theory, but I recently plucked a tomato horn worm off a basil plant itself that was in with two tomato plants. I was surprised to see him in there because I’ve never had a problem with them until this year.
😳😳😳 solid it eat at any of the Basil?
I found one of these in my pepper Garden yesterday for the first time in Four Seasons of growing pepper plants, and that thing had the entire top of one of my pepper plants eaten in less than 24 hours. I had never seen one of these before nor did I know what it was, all I knew is that thing was huge and its appetite was even bigger.
Yesterday I pulled them off my bell peppers, potatoes and tomatoes! My basil is about 20 feet away. Will do more closer. Great idea!
Thanks!
I planted 2 types basil next to my tomato, eggplant and pepper plants last year. The hornworms took big bites out of numerous peppers and ate leaves on plants. They ate tomato leaves. This year I decided not to plant tomato plants because they brought in hornworms. As of August, I haven’t seen any hornworms eating my peppers. I have been harvesting a lot of peppers and preserving them.
I plant marigolds around my tomatoes 🍅 No hornworms ☺️
Thank you! I'm doing this from now on.
He's telling the truth whether some of yall believe it or not. This year I didn't plant basil next to my tomato plants and I've NEVER seen so many hornworms on my plants like this! I counted at least 12 and they decimated my plants. Years before I would plant basil next to them and I have seen 1 or 2 worms but never this many. So basil does deter them but not all of us have the same luck as NLG.
Good to know so I will not plant basil there. Every day at about sunup and again at about sundown I have a pair of cardinals go through my garden and they clean up any hornworms. This has been working for over 10 years and I do not want to loose them servicing my garden.
Agreed, but didn't realize could attack my peppers & I've planted several away from my basil & mint. I can move a mint in pot & lemon grass. Also, I'll start putting extra cut basil leafs around those peppers.
This works! Thanks!!! I also blend with water basil leaves and spray occasionally.
Thanks for the great tip about basil! Next year I'll plant lots of basil! I have had only one season when the horn worm appeared, and I promptly disposed of them.
Thank you for sharing this info. This year's garden will have a lot of Basil added to it. Lol
I had tomato horn worms on my tomato plants this year, but was lucky that the parasitic wasps got to them and took care of the issue. I'll definitely be planting basil near the tomatoes next year though!
Grew really beautiful basil this year right against my interdimate tomatoes and found 3 horn worms. Bummer but I will grow basil with my tomatoes next year again.
I just picked off the granddaddy of all horn worms from one of my tomato plants. It was so large, that I cut the branch from the plant, and cast it out of the garden, into the gully of no return. Coincidently, I have basil and green onions growing as companion plants.
Needed basil planted next to some of my flowers (I call them miniature petunias) because I removed 12 hornworms from one plant! I don’t have chickens (HOA doesn’t allow them) so I squished them! Fortunately my plant made a comeback and is once again beautiful.
Oh wow!
Doing same - commenting to affirm IT WORKS! - so far, huge plantings, no problems USE BASIL! plus you can keep it in check by clipping, hanging upside down (or other drying method) crumble put in jar (can freeze too - puree it - ice cube trays) and use instead of ever buying at the store again
Awesome!
Great video and tip. Going to go cut my basil and propagate more plants today :) thank you.
You're welcome 😊
My infestation of tomato horn worms where when my tomato plants were really tall and not close to the basil. It was time to cut back all the vines and start a new fall planting anyway, but I have a variety of basil seedlings growing with my tomato seedlings. I should be good to go!
I will keep this in mind for next season. For now my chickens get a treat when I pluck them! Gross to us but juicy snacks for chickens! Now how do I rid the grass hoppers???
Add poles 4 ft apart at the edge of your tomatoes. Tie rags to the poles and spray bug spray on the rags and the moths will stay away so you get no worms. BEEN WORKING FOR ME 4 YEATS.
Amazing! I will definitely do that next year for sure! Thank your for the info! Excited to try this 🎉
Good afternoon,, Thanks for the video!! Wasn't sure just what kind of warm this was,, but I know now after watching your video!!! But believe it or not,, they guys are all over my olive trees!! I know these guys are hearty eater but, Oilve trees?? Have you ever heard of that??
Robert
I had hornworms on my Ace 55 container tomato, both had parasitic wasps eating them alive. This seems like a grand idea.
I had forgotten that peppers were nightshades until one of my plants was eaten to the ground overnight by hornworms! Planning my garden for next year and I had already decided to grow tomatoes using the lower and lean method and to plant a lot of basil all around the base of the plants. I like the idea of different kinds of basil planting throughout the garden, especially for pollinators.
Sounds good!
I have a lot of basil all over my garden, and every morning when I go check, all my basil has been chew up, I have no problem in my tomatoes this year so far, thanks to BT, however my basil and potatoes is a daily fight.
You are very fortunate. The only insect that I have found on my basil is Japanese beetles. They are usually on the blooms only this location. In my other raised beds, I planted basil throughout my garden. Insects gravitate toward my vegetable plants and do not touch the basil.
The chickens would have loved those hornworms!
This is life changing! I will definitely try this next year!
I've also heard alyssum does the same thing. This year I had both with tomatoes and not a single hornworm in any of my tomato beds
I've had no trouble with hornworms. I recommend severe draught.
Awesomely helpful adivce. Thank you!
You're welcome 😊
I'm a little north from you and have not had the same experience. I tend to get tobacco hornworms and wonder if that makes a difference. I would think that should matter. This doesn;t mean I won't plant basil around the garden because basils are so fun.
I have basil planted all around in my garden too. Didn't know I helped prevent hornworms, but I haven't had any in years. Good to know Tai Basil tastes like licorice, I will avoid that one lol
I had my Tom surrounded by Basil...never stops the horned worms
You’re a life saver I didn’t know that, if I don’t have access to Basil can I put the tomatoes beside oregano?
I have about 20 Tomato plants in my garden with Basil between each plant, and I have had at least a dozen tomato worms.
I almost lost a sweet hybrid banana pepper plant this year to 3 horned caterpillars. It has just now recovered from all the damage.
I do container gardening and plant basil in the same pot and still have hornworms.
But they are SO PRETTY!!! Hahaha great tip Brian! 🧡❤️💜💙💚
I've learned those tomatoes out there weren't for the bugs.
Also something tells me you don't know how beneficial those tomatoes hornworms are well the moth version there fantastic pollinaters in the garden for night flowers.
I just planted 10 small basil transplants from seeds on my raised beds!
Great!
Great! Now we need to deter squash vine borers because I would like to have some squash.
Another eureka moment. Getting me more basil plants.
😁
I use DE. It works great.
Is that DE powder that you use in swimming pools? How and where do you apply it? Thanks in advance.
“Saw one..then looked again, and saw 6-7 more.” I have had that happen, and it is super creepy. Trying dilute Castile soap spray, but will also give the basal co-planting a try.
Hey Brian. Just wanted to let you know that I have a garden filled with basil…sadly I also have killed 3 hornworms this morning. So basil may slow down the rate of infestations but there must be some other way to get rid of these monsters. I lost a beautiful tomato plant about 2 weeks ago and I’m convinced it was horn worm. 😭
Dang. I’ve never been able to grow tomatoes because the hornworms get to them, but I’ll have to try this. I might surround my tomatoes with a bunch of little pots like a basil guard 😅
I don’t know why but I’ve never had a horn worm in my garden. In all of the decades I’ve been gardening. I know I probably just jinxed myself but it’s true.
You're gonna find one tomorrow 😂
Didn't work for me. I planted basil in all my tomato beds this year and got hornworms in all of them. Picked off what worms I could find, then came out the next few nights with a UV flashlight I have and was surprised to see so many more. After about 3 nights of doing this and using an organic product you recommended (can't remember the name off top of my head), I haven't seen any more. But my basil plants in those beds are thriving.
So far no hornworms, I had planted Giant MARIGOLDS. Right now they are 3.5 ft tall and wide. Between each tomato but I have sun flowers patch few dalilahs and zenias too. But had had some japanese beetles.
The wasps are so bad this year but they sure do their job on keeping the worms eaten out of my little garden!
Thank you for sharing this information with us 🙏 we appreciate it! Blessings 🙌 to you
Thank you!
It's true. I never have the horn worm, I have basil between every tomato plant!!
I have 4-25 gallon pots that I plant my tomatoes in I planted 2 basil plant in each and the hornworm still ate all your plants
I have Tie basil in my raised garden bed with tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. And YES yesterday I found 6 small tomato worms. I wonder if I need another basil plant? Humm
I have basil plants immediately next to my peppers and was visited by hornworms! Nothing is a guarantee!
Brian, I totally agree on the Basil!! I also added Dill and Marigolds and not 1 horn worm anywhere! ALSO, Brian I won something from you last Fri, on my first Fall Garden, but I don't have a smart phone so I can't access telegram. How can I claim the prize that you so graciously are offering? Again loving your video's so full of great info! Blessings
Hi Patricia. I'm sorry to say it was a scammer.
@@NextLevelGardening That's okay, I didn't remember you saying there was going to be a give away! I wonder how that had happened.
I planted mint and marigolds around mine, no hornworms. My awful problem was the squash vine borers.
One observation for this season so far Brian, aside of too many days of well over 100 degrees, grasshoppers totally decimate marigolds... and chew right through sweet basil along the way. -Bob...
Yup..here too! 100°+ temps and tons of grasshoppers ONLY on the basil. Not to mention hornworms on basil and tomatoes. I was SO hopeful!
I always appreciate your content!
Thank you!
I live in southern california and have grown both together and those Caterpillars have eaten my basil and tomatoes both. they eat the basil just as much as anything else
Thanks for the help. This explains a lot.
You squished your hornworms? Oh, man, your chickens would LOVE those!!
Ding dong. 🤣 Well, that impromptu experiment shows how well basil works as a deterrent. So, there's that.
I meant to do that 😉😆
@@NextLevelGardening - 🤣🤣🤣
I had basil with my tomatoes, and 4 days ago I found 33 hornworms 😳. I had never seen one in my life and when I noticed 1 I found 32 more. And they were HUGE. They were on my peppers too
Basil and marigolds
I made the mistake of planting the basil after the tomatoes, because the tomatoes grew faster earlier in the spring and needed to go in the ground first. As a result, the basil got shaded out and didn't grow very well. At least I don't get a lot of hornworms, as the only one I've ever seen was 3 years ago on one of my peppers. If you pick them off and throw them, the birds will finish the job for you.
Awesome,,, definitely putting this into Action Immediately!!!!!!
Awesome!
Nice tip Brian, thanks!
👍
You're welcome 😊