I assume you mean Hornworms? The best way to deal with them is as you did, picking them by hand. Spray your plants thoroughly in the evening with water when you water the containers. The hornworms don’t like water and you can usually see them moving around. This makes them easier to find. If you still have problems in a week, you may have a large infestation in your area. But usually in containers you can control them easier. You can google safe, organic, leaf pesticides to spray on your leaves if hand picking them doesn’t work.
Did you fill your containers with garden soil? Or store bought topsoil or potting mix?
https://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/tomato-hornworms-in-home-gardens/
Here’s something interesting.
http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2011/08/when-not-to-kill-a-tomato-hornworm/
