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04 Jan 25 Lea (Australia - temperate climate)

Tomatoes being attacked by caterpillars picked one with a hole cut it in half and a caterpillar came out. They seem to be attacking before fruit has ripened. Will I need something stronger than pyrenthrium. Thanks

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24 Jan 25 Nancy M (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I've been growing tomatoes in the subtropics for years, the best insect/caterpillar repellents are barriers, which means bagging the fruit. Online sellers (don't want to name them here but the biggest one starts with an A), sell various sized drawstring fruit bags in bulk orders (20, 30 etc). These are reusable, I usually give them a soak in hot water at the end of the season to kill any eggs or pathogens, dry them and store them and I get several years out of them. I bag the baby tomatoes when the first tiny fruit forms as the bugs get there quickly. Yes, it is extra work. But it does work and avoids the need for harsh frequent insecticide spraying. The only tip I have about buying these is get the softer fabrics, there are some with a firm fabric that doesn't close well.

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08 Jan 25 (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Best to grow tomatoes into the winter months. The summer early autumn time has lots of rain which is the breeding time for bugs and insects. After Easter plant seedlings.

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