Tomatoes are popular with home gardeners and insects.
Today's home gardener has plenty of options when it comes to growing tomato plants. There are also a variety of ways to prevent pests from infecting those plants, including organic pest control methods. Does this Spark an idea?
Garden Cleanup
It's important to plant tomatoes in a clean environment, which means using clean potting soil and clearing the garden of any plant or animal debris before planting. This will help keep bugs such as flea beetles away from tomatoes.
Organic Insecticide
When planting a tomato plant, or as the tomato leaves grow, apply a thin layer of organic insect killer. Natural citrus-based insecticides will kill off most pests on tomatoes. Do this repeatedly (about once a week) throughout the months before the tomatoes are ready.
Aphid Solutions
For aphids, a common tomato pest, set out yellow sticky traps or yellow dishes that contain soapy water. Mint tea spray is also effective. Lacewings are beneficial insects that are useful in gardens to destroy aphids.
Companion Gardening
Insects often prefer some plants to others. Plant mustard or radishes near tomatoes to draw the bugs away from new tomato plants. The bugs will feast on the other plants, giving the tomatoes a chance to grow.
Chemical Pest Control
If other methods have not stopped pests from attacking the tomato plants, turn to chemical sprays. Look for sprays that target specific pests rather than ones that kill all insects, because plants need good insects.
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