Safe Soap Insecticide for Tomato Plants

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 if 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 necessary tools. Start with a natural, organic, liquid castile soap. Dr. Bronner's Peppermint is an excellent choice, but any biodegradable liquid castile 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. While this will work in and of itself, there are ways to make it more efficient.

Roots and Spices to Repel Insects

Make a tea with herbs, roots, and spices with repellent characteristics. Choose from among:

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

Chop them up and and place in a mason jar. Cover them with boiling water and allow to steep overnight. Use this tea as part of the quart of water in the soap recipe. Because the food in this recipe may spoil, do freeze any of this tea that you do not use within a week.

The strong smells and hot spice will repel some 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.

Cheap 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. Soaps full of chemical perfumes or preservatives will kill plants.

Using Soapy Water in the 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.

Using beer in the garden is another tool in the organic gardener's arsenal. Beer is a natural fertilizer that helps to control pests and is safe to use in organic tomato gardens.

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.