Nontoxic insecticides are especially important for a vegetable garden.
When choosing an insecticidal spray for plants in a vegetable garden, it is very important to choose sprays with nontoxic ingredients that won't contaminate vegetables. One way to ensure that your vegetable garden insecticide is organic and nontoxic is to make it yourself. You can make an insect spray using common household ingredients and herbs that kill bugs.
Insecticidal soap
Soaps have been used to kill insects for hundreds of years, but recently companies have begun selling soaps that are specially formulated to kill garden pests. Soap is most effective on insects with soft bodies like mealybugs, aphids, thrips and whiteflies, and you must make direct contact with the insect. You can use one of these commercially made insecticidal soaps, but liquid household soaps like pure castile soap or unscented liquid dish soap work also. Soaps with added ingredients like antibacterial chemicals or moisturizers can harm plants, so only use pure soap.
Tobacco
The active chemical in tobacco, nicotine, kills insects by disrupting signals in their nervous system, and extracts of tobacco or smoke have been used to kill garden pests for hundreds of years. Use natural dried tobacco leaves without additives instead of tobacco from cigarettes or cigars, which can have harmful chemicals. One way to ensure this is to grow a few tobacco plants in your garden and harvest and dry the leaves.
Tobacco Tea
Tobacco tea is an infusion of tobacco leaves that contains nicotine. To make tobacco tea, place 1/3 cup dried tobacco leaves in a cheesecloth or nylon sock and tie into a bundle. Then steep the tobacco in 1 gallon of hot water for at least an hour or until the tea is dark brown. Store in a clean container with a lid and keep away from pets or children.
Soap and Tobacco Insect Spray Recipe
To make an insect spray with dish soap and tobacco, mix 1 cup prepared tobacco tea with 1 cup liquid dish washing soap and 1 cup mouthwash. Mix well and pour into a spray bottle, then spray on plants, making sure to spray directly on any visible bugs. Saturate under leaves where bugs such as aphids like to hide. Wash vegetables thoroughly before eating to remove any nicotine or soap residue.
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