Soap Insecticide to Keep Organic Tomato Gardens Healthy

Soapy water, herbs and spices make a green pest control recipe that has beneficial effects for tomato plants.

Tomatoes are a relatively easy crop and a great crop for beginning gardeners. That being said, many uninvited guests will find and destroy a tomato garden left unprotected. Aphids, caterpillars, mites and beetles are only some of the enemies that must be kept at bay.

Spray Soapy Water on Tomato Plants

Home made soapy water spray should be on every organic gardener's list of tools. Start with a natural, organic, liquid castile soap. Dr. Bronner's Peppermint is an excellent choice, but any biodegradable liquid soap will work well. The soap must be biodegradable so that it will break down easily in the soil and not hurt the roots of the tomato plants.

Mix only 2 tablespoons of the castile soap into a quart of water in a bucket. Increase the efficacy of the mixture by adding roots, herbs, or spices.

Roots and Spices to Repel Insects

Make a tea with any of the following herbs, roots, or spices. Their pest-repellent characteristics add benefits to the soap spray. Choose from among:

• Hot peppers
• Garlic
• Ginger root
• Horseradish root.

Chop up the plant material and place the it in a mason jar. Cover with boiling water and allow to steep overnight. Use this tea as part of the quart of water in the soap recipe. For example, if you made a pint of tea, add a pint of water and two tablespoons of Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap.

Any tea that you do not use within a week should be frozen, however. Otherwise, it may spoil.

The strong smells and hot spice will repel tomato pests. The soap in the recipe smothers and dehydrates insects that dare to come close to the tomato plants.

Soap vs. Detergent

Soap and detergent are two different things. Soap is a naturally occurring salt caused by a chemical reaction between fats and oils and sodium hydroxide. Pure soap is biodegradable.

Detergents are made with petroleum based oils and will kill your tomato plants. Do not use detergent in this recipe!

Store-Bought Pest Control Sprays

There are natural pesticide sprays on the market, however, a thorough reading of the ingredients indicates that they are easy and cheap to make at home. One brand lists the main ingredient as "potassium salts of naturally occurring fatty acids." That means soap. As long as the soap is organic and biodegradable, it will do the same job. Choose soap for this project wisely, however, because soaps full of chemical perfumes or preservatives will kill tomato plants.

Using Soapy Water in the Organic Garden

Spray this soapy water recipe on tomato plants daily. This recipe is gentle and non-toxic; therefore, it may be safely used right up until harvest time.

The University of California's Pest Management Program website has a plethora of information about tomato pests, fungi and diseases.

To maintain a healthy, organic vegetable garden with a bountiful tomato harvest, use soapy spray, beer, and companion planting techniques. Enjoy organic tomatoes grown without poisons and chemicals this season and every season.