Organic Insecticide for Vegetables

Benefits

• Vegetable gardeners use natural insecticides and homemade sprays because they have lower toxicity to humans and other warm-blooded animals. Even those organic insecticides that carry a higher danger warning break down more quickly than synthetic pesticides. To ensure you do the least harm to the environment while protecting growing vegetables, identify the insect pest before selecting the appropriate treatment and follow label instructions carefully.

Common Types

• The botanical insecticides pyrethrum, nicotine, sabadilla and rotenone are certified for organic use with vegetable crops. They are effective at combating aphids, beetles, caterpillars, leafhoppers, thrips and whiteflies. Spinosad is another organic-certified insecticide safe to use with vegetables like cucumber, eggplant, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and squash. Additional organic pest controls include sulfur, effective against psyllids, spider mites and thrips found on beans, peas, potatoes and tomatoes, as well as homemade sprays made from chili peppers and garlic.

Safe Use

• Do not use insecticidal sprays in winds more than five to 10 mph and only at the doses recommended.