Homemade Sprays for Tomatoes

Pepper Pest Spray

• Puree 1 garlic clove, 1 onion, 1 tsp. cayenne pepper and 1 qt. water in a blender. Wait one hour and strain the mixture through cheesecloth. Pour the strained solution into a spray bottle. Use the solution to control any garden pest, such as tomato hornworms, aphids or leafhoppers. Spray both the tops and bottoms of the leaves two to three times per week. Label and refrigerate the solution and use it within one week.

Insecticidal Soap Spray

• Commercial insecticidal soap sprays are effective for killing small, soft-bodied insects, such as aphids, leafhoppers, thrips and whiteflies. These insects spread disease and suck fluids from tomato plants, causing the leaves to wilt and yellow. Make a homemade version of insecticidal soap by mixing 3 tbsp. soap flakes with 1 gallon of water. Laundry detergents or dish detergents are too harsh and may damage plants. Spray the mixture directly on the pests, coating their bodies. The soap is a desiccant, drying out the insects. Soap sprays quickly lose effectiveness. Repeat the application every five to seven days or after a rain.

Oil Sprays

• Horticultural oils smother soft-bodied insects, such as aphids, leafhoppers, thrips and whiteflies. Mix 2 tbsp. cooking oil, 2 tbsp. baby shampoo and 1 gallon water. Spray the tomato leaves, coating both the fronts and the undersides thoroughly. Apply oil sprays in the evening or early morning, rather than midday to avoid burning the plant leaves. Reapply the solution every five to seven days. Add 2 tbsp. baking soda to this solution to treat tomato fungal diseases, such as early blight.

Considerations

• Gardeners used homemade pest control sprays for years, but few studies have documented the safety or efficacy of these mixtures. Use the pepper solution carefully because garlic and cayenne pepper may irritate skin and eyes. The solutions vary in effectiveness, depending on garden conditions and the pest. Healthy plants are better able to withstand insect attacks.