Organic Methods for Keeping Bugs Away From Tomatoes
 (Read 500+ times)
By Glory Lennon
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The gardener concerned about the environment and the health of his or her family will likely want to know organic methods for keeping nasty bugs away from their tomatoes. Organic methods may not kill the bugs outright but will give the gardener a bit of extra time to watch for a massive infestation, and with luck can help eliminate one from starting.
The three basic methods are introducing predators, using “Trap” plants a slight way away from the tomato plants and planting repellant plants close to them. These methods are non-toxic, easy to “install” and some of them are darn pretty, not to mention useful.
With this in mind, let us go over a few of the most destructive bugs and ways in which to keep them clear of your tomatoes. At least to keep the bugs away long enough for you to catch them in the act and eliminate them before they cause too much damage.
Aphids
These tiny little bugs can be quite bothersome but they do have an enemy which every gardener should encourage to come to their yard. That would be the ladybug. Ladybugs devour aphids by the ton and they do occur naturally in most well-balanced eco-systems. However, if you don’t have any or never see them around, you are able to buy very hungry and often ready for reproducing ladybugs for release in your garden. Any good local garden center should be able to supply the gardener with ladybugs. If there is no such place near you, you may have to send away for them by mail. Gardens Alive is a great source for organic solutions for the home garden including the coveted Ladybug.
Hornworms
Those bugs are huge and quite destructive! The most garden friendly method for keeping Hornworms away from tomatoes is floating row covers. Depending on how many tomato plants you have, it could be a daunting task or at the very least a bothersome thing to use these. There is another method that will work and also provide you with an herb to use in your cooking. The planting of Dill nearby your tomatoes is a “trap” plant used as a decoy. That is to say, the Hornworms will go to the Dill first leaving your tomatoes alone until they’ve had their fill if Dill. After the Hornworms all congregate on the Dill, you can pick them off individually and drop them into a cup of rubbing alcohol to kill them. This may seem tedious, but it’s basically harmless for you and keeps your precious tomatoes safe.
Stinkbugs
Here is the scoop on Stinkbugs: You can go two ways to keep these bugs at bay. Plant a mini-hedge of repellent plants to try to keep them out of your garden entirely. These repellant plants, which they seem to hate because of their scent, are Marigold, radish, catnip, garlic, mint and tansy. With the mint and Tansy, which tend to be rather invasive, it would be wise to plant them in pots then place the pots along the perimeter of your vegetable patch. You can also plant “Trap” plants as a lure away from the tomatoes. Stinkbugs love these and will go to them first. The best are sunflower, buckwheat, triticale, sorghum and millet.
Goodness, that's a load of bugs! But if you want to go organic, which is by far the best way to ensure the health of your family, your garden and the environment as a whole, then these non-toxic, organic methods will be a blessing for you. These tried and true methods will safeguard that lovely crop of tomatoes so you, your family, friends and even a neighbor or two can enjoy them.
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Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 Visit Glory’s Garden @ http://glory-garden.blogspot.com/ and discover the sometimes whimsical, part time frustrating and all the time curious musings from an obsessed gardener.
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