What is Cutting the Blossoms of My Tomato Plants?

Tomato plants are an excellent addition to any garden. They are easy to grow, produce succulent fruit, and are relatively low maintenance. However, sometimes tomato plants can be just a bit finicky, leaving gardeners puzzled as to what is causing problems with their plants. One common issue is when the blossoms of tomato plants are visibly cut or removed. This article will explore what could be causing this problem and what can be done to prevent it.

The Culprit: Cutworms

Cutworms are the most likely culprit when it comes to cutting the blossoms of tomato plants. These are the larvae of several moth species, including the spotted cutworm and the variegated cutworm. Cutworms are nocturnal and typically chew through the stems of the tomato plant's blossoms during the night. Because they feed at the base of the plant, they cause significant damage, including shriveling and dropping of the flower bud.

To determine if cutworms are affecting your tomato plants, check the base of the stem for injury. Additionally, inspect the surrounding soil for cutworms since they burrow in soil during the day. If cutworms are present, they will be easy to find since they are approximately one inch long and have a curved, gray-brown body.

Prevention and Treatment

The best way to prevent cutworm damage is to take preventive measures before planting. Try to remove any weeds or debris around the plants before planting. Placing a collar around the base of each plant can also prevent cutworms from crawling up the stem and damaging the fruit. You can make collars from paper or cardboard, cut it into 2-inch-wide strips, and wrap it around the stem of your tomato plant, leaving two inches of the collar above the surface. This creates a barrier that cutworms cannot crawl across.

If your tomato plants are already showing signs of cutworm damage, there are a few things you can do to treat the problem. The first is to physically remove the cutworms by handpicking them from the soil around the plants. Alternatively, you can spray the base of tomato plants with a biological insecticide such as Bacillus thuringiensis. This bacterium will kill cutworms, leaving your tomato plants to thrive.

Conclusion

The damage caused by cutworms is frustrating, but it's an easy problem to prevent and treat. By keeping an eye out for cutworms, taking preventive measures before planting, and treating the problem quickly should it occur, your tomato plants can continue to produce their delicious fruit all season long without issue.