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.

Plants That Have Yellow Flowers

Many varieties of plants bloom with yellow flowers. Some are just for show, some are good to eat and others may have medicinal value. Yellow flowers show up well against the green of most plant stems and leaves, announcing to the world that they are in full bloom.

Annuals

Annual flowers bloom one year. They must be planted again year after year for continued enjoyment.

 Sunflowers are annuals; they are usually tall and yellow, although some dwarf varieties with orange and red in the petals have been cultivated. They attract birds and add color to urban gardens.

Most sunflower varieties are planted directly in the ground in the early spring, after the last chance of frost has passed. Many varieties grow 6-feet or taller. They bloom in the late summer. As fall approaches, the heads swell so large that the top of the flower falls over, similar to a person with his head hung low. The head grows, the yellow petals fall off as the seeds grow larger, and the sunflowers attract many bird species to come feast on sunflower seeds.

Biennials

Biennial flowers complete their life cycle in two years instead of just one.

Black-Eyed Susans are easy to care for and very commonly grown outdoors in North America. While they prefer moist soil and full sun, they are extremely hearty and often survive if neglected. Most varieties are biennial, so when landscaping with black-eyed susans home owners must reseed every other year. The ease of care may make up for the work of reseeding.


Perrenials

Perennial flowers bloom year after year after year. They are a landscaper' dream because once the work of planting is done, the plants just need to be tended for the yellow blooms to come back every spring or summer. Fernleaf Yarrow is a perennial that prefers, like many yellow perennials, prefers full sun. Golden Columbine and Leopard's Bane, however, are yellow perennial flowers that do well in shadier or less sunny areas.

Edible Flowers

Zucchini and yellow crook-neck squash flowers are big and bright yellow before the fruit of the zucchini gets large. Some gardeners harvest the yellow flowers at full bloom and use them in recipes, then allow other flowers to die so the zucchini can grow. Zucchini flowers are a sweet and delicate, seasonal treat.