Bug Repellent for Vegetable Plants

Garden vegetables need protection from insect pests.

Your vegetable garden looks like a dinner buffet to many insects, and without the proper protection, those plants may be ruined by bugs. Bug repellents for vegetables may be chemical or organic, or even physical barriers.

Safe Insecticides

Some insecticides that are considered safe for vegetable gardens are organic, and some are not. According to the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, pesticides that contain malathion, diazinon and carbaryl are synthesized during an industrial process. Though these are not organic, they are still considered safe for use on food crops.

Homemade Repellents

Insecticidal soaps and sprays can be made from ingredients like dish soap, garlic, crushed insects, vegetable oil, hot pepper sauce, and rubbing alcohol, according to the book Your Organic Garden with Jeff Cox,

Physical Barriers

Use physical barriers to keep insects off vegetables. Floating row covers and stem collars will help deter cutworms, squash bugs and tarnished plant bugs.

Predatory Insects

Beneficial insects like parasitic wasps, predatory mites, and ground and rove beetles will help keep vegetable insect pests in check.

Resistant Varieties

Whenever possible, plant varieties of vegetables that are resistant to bug attacks. These include Beefmaster tomatoes, Monarch cucumbers, and Hungarian wax peppers.

References

• Oklanhoma Cooperative Extension: Home Vegetable Garden Insect Pest Control
• Your Organic Garden With Jeff Cox; The Editors of Rodale Garden Books; 1994