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How to Kill Aphids on Tomato Plants with Stuff from Your Pantry

Gardening Guide: The Everything Tomato Guide: All You Need to Know About Growing, Harvesting, Cooking, and Eating Delicious Tomatoes

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How to Kill Aphids on Tomato Plants with Stuff from Your Pantry

You may already have everything you need to deal with aphids on tomato plants in your garden.

By Amanda MacArthur

aphids on tomato plants

As much as I love the idea of microbiomes and letting nature do its thing, when it comes to finding aphids on tomato plants in my garden, I tend to take things into my own hands. If you haven’t come across them, you probably will at some point in your gardening experience. 

Aphids are tiny green insects that are easy to miss unless you look closely. They feed by tearing into the plants with their vampire-like fangs and sucking out the nutrient-rich liquids. Worse, they can carry diseases from plant to plant, causing extra damage. 

And in case that’s not enough, they reproduce quickly, so a few aphids on tomato plants in a corner of your garden can soon be a destructive force. Lucky for us, there are several ways to get rid of aphids.

Willow carrot aphids

5 Easy ways to kill aphids on tomato plants before they ruin your garden

Your first line of defense in dealing with aphids on tomato plants or elsewhere in your garden is our friend, the ladybug. In the world of beneficial insects, ladybugs are legendary as aphid killers. You can also plant chives and marigolds, as they may repel aphids and other pests. 

If you’re past that point, though, and need to take more drastic action, head to your pantry. You most likely already have what you need to take on an army of aphids. 

1. Easy aphid spray. You only need a few simple ingredients for this one. Add a few drops of dish detergent and a tablespoon of vegetable oil to a quart of water and spray your plants when it’s cool out, either very early in the morning or late in the evening, so the oil doesn’t concentrate in the summer heat. You can also make this without the vegetable oil; the dish soap and water mixture should do the trick, it might just take a little longer. With either recipe, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to help deter any further aphid infestation.

2. Neem oil spray. Neem oil is like the ibuprofen of the garden. It seems to cure so many problems, from mildew on rosemary to aphids on tomato plants. If this miracle cure isn’t in your pantry already, go get some as soon as you can. For dealing with aphids, mix two tablespoons of Neem oil into a quart of water and spray weekly, making sure to get the underside of the leaves where aphids congregate.

3. Vinegar spray. This one is pretty basic, as well, but it works. Simply combine vinegar and water in a one-to-five ratio and spray your plants. Vinegar can also help prevent mold and fungal diseases, so you get bonus points for this combo.

4. Flour. I’ll be honest. I haven’t tried this, but supposedly all-purpose flour is one way to kill aphids on tomato plants. It’s said to dry them out when they eat it. Again, I can’t vouch for this, but if you’re desperate, it certainly won’t hurt anything.

5. Water. Okay, this one probably isn’t in your pantry, but if you don’t have a major infestation of aphids on tomato plants, you can use your garden hose to spray them off. A word to the wise, however: spray away from your garden. You don’t want to shift the aphid problem to another plant.

As with most pest problems, of course, the easiest solution is to prevent them in the first place. Companion planting with mint, garlic, and other strongly scented plants (such as the previously mentioned chives and marigolds) is a great way to add some extra life to your garden and keep pests away. 

Have you had issues with aphids on tomato plants in your garden? How did you take care of it?

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aphids on tomato plants, beneficial insects, chives, companion planting, garden hose, rosemary

Comments
  • Gayle R. January 17, 2022

    Thanking you in advance.

    Reply
  • Azar ". December 13, 2021

    They were on my tomato plants leaves. I picked all the leaves off my tomato plant and covered the plants with cheesecloth — that worked.

    Reply
  • June R. December 13, 2021

    Thank you for the information on aphids, my problem is white fly under the leaves.
    We love hit pepper and try to grow different varieties but white fly is there weekly
    I use the been oil and soap but I was wondering if you have a magic potion

    Reply

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Curator’s Corner
  • Introduction
  • Feature Articles

  • Types of Tomato Plants: Standard, Hybrid and Heirloom
  • Preventing Cross Pollination of Heirloom Tomatoes
  • Classifications of Tomato Plants: Determinate vs. Indeterminate
  • Varieties of Tomato Plants
  • Growing Tomatoes from Seeds, Cuttings, or Seedlings
  • Growing Tomatoes in Open Land, in Containers, or in Raised Beds
  • Soil Requirements for Growing Tomatoes
  • The Right Sunlight for Your Tomatoes
  • Should You Fertilize Tomato Plants?
  • How and When to Water Tomato Plants
  • Harvesting and Pruning your Tomatoes
  • Storing and Preserving your Tomatoes
  • How to Spot, Treat, and Prevent Tomato Diseases
  • What to Do About Pests that Can Harm Your Tomato Plants
  • The Right Way to Weed Your Tomato Garden
  • Tomato Rot: How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Blossom-End Rot
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing Tomatoes
  • Plant Profiles

  • Green Beefsteak Tomatoes
  • Red Beefsteak Tomatoes
  • San Marzano Tomatoes
  • Roma (or Plum) Tomatoes
  • Grape Tomatoes
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Recipes

  • Balsamic Bruschetta
  • Tomato Salsa
  • Authentic Italian Pizza Sauce
  • Fried Green Tomatoes
  • Stewed Tomatoes
  • Salsa Seafood Soup
  • Roasted Tomato Sauce
  • Cherry Tomato Salad
  • Additional Articles

  • Nutrition Facts about Tomatoes
  • Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Tomatoes
  • Resources about Tomatoes
  • Tomatoes Glossary
  • Related Articles

  • 7+ Perfect Plants for an Edible Front Porch Garden
  • The Biggest Basil and Tomato Companion Planting Benefits
  • The 15 Best Beefsteak Tomatoes To Grow in 2023
  • The Best Grow Lights for Tomatoes and Peppers
  • The Best Vegetables to Grow in a Greenhouse
  • How to Prune Tomato Plants, Peppers, Cucumbers and More
  • How to Stop Vegetable Blight from Ruining Tomatoes
  • Yellow Leaves on Tomato Plants? 5 Reasons and Remedies
  • 5 Tomato Canning Supplies to Preserve Sauce Longer
  • How to Ripen Tomatoes Quickly Three Ways
  • How to Kill Aphids on Tomato Plants with Stuff from Your Pantry
  • Gardening Equipment Every Tomato Gardener Needs
  • How to Grow Your Own Pizza Garden for the Best Pizza Parties
  • How to Avoid Tomato Blossom End Rot
  • How to Make Chicken Cacciatore in a Crock-Pot
  • The 5 Best Tomatoes for Salsa
  • The 10 Sweetest Tomatoes to Plant

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