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Best Insecticides for Your Vegetable Garden

All vegetables are tender and nutritious, and they attract a wide range of insects. It is frustrating to see your tender vegetable plants badly infested with creepy caterpillars, thrips, aphids, fruit flies, and other insects that are happily eating them. Insects usually attack vegetable plants that are unhealthy or possess a weak defense system.

This article will summarize the accurate information about the best insecticides sprays and dust to control pests in your vegetable gardens.

Insecticides

Insecticides are chemical products applied either in dust or liquid form on the affected crops to control insect infestations. Powder forms are dusted directly on to the infected plants, while concentrated insecticides require dilution before applying.

Spraying of insecticide is preferred over dusting because it provides more uniform coverage, and this way, it is easier to treat the tops and undersides of plant leaves. They can also be applied as soil drenching to kill the soil insects.

Types of Insecticides

There are two types of insecticides based on the chemical nature of the product:

Inorganic Insecticides

Inorganic insecticides are human or artificially made from synthetic formulas (like carbamates or pyrethroids). They can also be manufactured from heavy metals and arsenic compounds. These types of insecticides are highly effective against insect pests, but proper care should be taken while applying them to your vegetable garden. 

Organic Insecticides

These are made from plant oils and animals or plant-derived fatty acids. They are environmentally friendly and cause no harm to your vegetable crops. The example of these types of insecticides includes insecticidal soaps, and nicotine, etc.

Tips for Keeping Your Vegetable Garden Healthy and Insect Pest-free

  1. Maintain a healthy and organic soil by using good fertilizer and compost. It will make your plants vigorous and healthy that helps them to survive pests and disease attacks.
  2. Grow plants of different kinds of vegetables, because when there are different varieties of plants, pests are less likely to attack your crops.
  3. Practice crop rotation, it helps to avoid re-infestation of insects and pests.
  4. Clear off any debris and weeds from your vegetable garden because these are breeding places of insects.
  5. Before using any insecticide in your vegetable garden, remove weak or already infected plants from your garden area.
  6. It will help to stop attracting other insect pests and keep other healthy plants safe from their infestation. 

Safety Tips for Using Insecticides

  • Before dealing with insecticides, always take personal protective measures.
  • Protect your body, wear full sleeves and pants.
  • Cover your hands with gloves.
  • Use a face mask to avoid inhalation of the fumes. 
  • Always read and follow the instructions given in the manual or on the back of the product.
  • After spraying insecticide, wash your hands and exposed skin with soap properly.
  • People with sensitive skin should avoid dealing with any insecticide.
  • Dispose of the empty containers properly.

Bonide Eight Insect Control for Vegetable, Fruit, and Flower, Insecticide/Pesticide Concentrate (16 oz.)

  1. It is a quick-acting and long-lasting insecticide.
  2. The effect of 1 application lasts for up to 4 weeks, which provides prolonged protection.
  3. It’s a water-based insecticide, and it smells good. 
  4. It provides a great range of insect control, including species of aphids, ants, worms, scales, mites, beetles, leaf miners, and more than 100 bug species that attack your vegetable garden.
  5. Appropriate for home or lawn areas to use against the infestations of flying insects (flies, ticks, fleas, mosquitoes) crawling ants and other hopping insects.
  6. Perfectly suitable to use on your garden vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, lawns, and shrubs.
  7. It provides immediate visible results when spraying and remaining residues kill insects when they come to the treated garden.
  8. You can use a trigger bottle and pressure tank sprayers for its application. 
  9. Do read and follow instructions given on the product.
  10. The active ingredient is permethrin at 2.5%.
  11. It comes in the form of a liquid concentrate.
  12. Eight insect control is an environment and user-friendly insecticide.

Monterey Garden Insect Spray, Insecticide, and Pesticide with Spinosad, (16 oz.)

  1. Monterey insect killer is a fast-acting insecticide.
  2. It does not produce any odor.
  3. Different types of insects that attack your vegetable garden can be controlled by spraying Monterey insect Killer, i.e., caterpillars, borers, leaf miners, tent caterpillars, gypsy moth, codling moth, thrips, and fire ants.
  4. You can also use these insecticides for lawns, ornamentals, and broadleaf weeds.
  5. It is ready to use insecticide that comes with an attached hose-end sprayer.
  6. It is an approved insecticide to use in organic gardening. 
  7. Apply thoroughly to the targeted area until it is damp.
  8. It is an easy and ready-to-use liquid insecticide.
  9. Its active ingredient is a natural bacteria known as spinosad, which is a new agricultural strategy. 
  10. It is safe to use this product around pets and people.

Bonide Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Flower and Vegetable Garden Dust, Organic Insecticide

  1. It is an organic insecticide that controls many insect pests of your garden.
  2. It provides the best results on vegetables, fruits, and ornamental plants.
  3. It contains spinosads (spinosyn A and spinosyn D.
  4. It effectively controls dozens of insects, including bagworms, caterpillars, spider mites, borers, beetles, tent, loopers, and many others that commonly affect your vegetable garden.
  5. This insecticide has a low environmental effect.
  6. Once dry, it only kills insects that ingest it, so it doesn’t harm beneficial insects.
  7. It is a dust formulation
  8. It is economical, convenient, and perfect for spot treatment.
  9. Apply it in the evening when honey bees are not active.

Monterey Fruit Tree and Vegetable Systemic Soil Drench Treatment:

  1. This pesticide provides excellent control on aphids, whiteflies, flea beetles, leafhoppers, mealybugs, thrips, Japanese beetles, and many more.
  2. You can also use it on trees and fruit crops, i.e., citrus, grapes, berries, pomes, stone fruits, pistachios, chestnuts, avocados, and mangoes.
  3. This product utterly kills the insect pest of vegetables and herbs garden including plants like chive, cilantro, basil, dill seed, thyme, mustard greens, tarragon, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, Brussels sprouts, parsley, cauliflower, cucumber, lettuce, kale, melons, celery, and more
  4. One application is enough for your vegetable garden for the entire season.
  5. This insecticide provides long-lasting effects as it is absorbed by the roots and becomes a part of the plant’s system. 
  6. It also protects new growths from insect pest attacks.
  7. It’s a concentrated insecticide; mix the product with water and pour it over the soil around the plant’s base. 
  8. No need to spray this insecticide
  9. 32 oz. of soil drench will treat 640 ft2 (59m2) of your garden vegetables.

Natria Neem Oil Pest and Disease Control, 24oz, Ready-to-use

  1. It is a form of insecticidal soap.
  2. It takes action against mites, aphids, white-flies, mealybugs, and many other pests.
  3. You can use it indoors and outdoors.
  4. It kills insects quickly, in minutes.                 
  5. It is safe to use for organic gardening.
  6. This product is a preventative bio fungicide.
  7. It efficiently protects your growing vegetables, fruits, houseplants, flowers, and other ornamental plants from damaging insect pests.
  8. It can kill all stages of insect pests effectively, i.e., larvae, nymphs, and adults.
  9. It is safe to use until you harvest.
  10. Natria neem oil paste is an easy-to-use insecticide.
  11. It also controls black spot, powdery mildew, and rust diseases. 

Sevin Insect Killer Concentrate, 32oz

  1. It can kill over 500 insects of vegetable gardens, ornamental plants, fruits, flower gardens, lawns, and around the home boundaries like decks, patio, and porches.
  2. This formulation is made to protect more than 250 vegetables and fruits.
  3. You can use it until the day before harvest. 
  4. It effectively kills insect pests of tomatoes, squash, peppers, broccoli, cucumbers, leafy vegetables, berries, grapes, and more.
  5. You can also use it to kill common household insects like aphids, bugs, ants, spiders, fleas, Japanese beetles, ticks, and roaches.
  6. It is easy to use and kills insect pests on contact. 
  7. Its active ingredient includes zeta-cypermethrin.
  8. It leaves no residual effect.
  9.  It is a non-staining and economical insecticide.
  10. It does not harm your plants, blooms, or lawn.
  11. You can apply it with a simple tank sprayer, mix the liquid concentrate with water and spray it on required areas. 
  12. It can be used throughout the growing season to kill insects.
  13. It is safe for your pets.

Natural Guard Spinosad Soap

  1. This specially formulated product provides the best protection against foliage eating insects of your vegetable gardens, crops, lawns, ornamental plants, and container plants.
  2. Two powerful active ingredients are combined in it, i.e., Potassium salts of fatty acids 0.940% and Spinosad 0.005%.
  3. It effectively controls many insect pests including wooly aphids, ants, aphids, army-worms, webworms, thrips, Colorado potato beetle, borers, gypsy moths, caterpillars, chinch bugs, fruit flies, codling moth, earwigs, lace bugs, leafhoppers, leafminers, leafrollers, loopers, mealybugs, mites, mole crickets, scale insects, spider mites, tent caterpillars, weevils, and whiteflies.
  4. It kills pests on contact.
  5. It is also effective against powdery mildew.
  6. It is a fast-acting and ready-to-spray insecticide. 
  7. It shows results within minutes after application.
  8. Shake well before application. 
  9. Thoroughly wet all plant parts with it, including the underside of leaves.
  10. Repeat application if needed.
  11. Be careful to use it on tender seedlings, blooms, and transplants.
  12. It is toxic to bees, so apply in the evening when they are inactive.

Garden Safe Brand Insecticidal Soap Insect Killer:

  1. It is the best option available for organic gardening.
  2. It contains specially selected soaps, i.e., fatty acid salts that provide the perfect pest control.
  3. You can use it to spray on vegetables, flowers, fruits, ornamentals, shrubs, gardens, indoors, and greenhouses.
  4. It provides a wide range of insect control on melons, tomatoes, beans, cucurbits, peas, cabbage, and potatoes.
  5. It is effective against listed insect pests like adelgids, aphids, scale insects, spider mites, earwigs, lace bugs, leafhoppers, mealybugs, mites, plant bugs, psyllids, pear and rose slugs, tent caterpillars, thrips, and whitefly.
  6. It is safe to use until a day before harvest.
  7. Repeat its application treatment weekly or fortnightly if needed.
  8. Don’t use it on sweet peas, delicate ferns, and nasturtiums. 
  9. Garden safe insecticidal soap is effective against powdery mildew disease.
  10. Spray insecticidal soap thoroughly on all parts of plants.
  11. It is a contact spray and must be sprayed directly on insect pests to control them.
  12. To check the sensitivity of plants, first, apply it to a smaller area of plants and wait to check if any plant damage occurs before treating larger areas of your vegetable garden.
  13. Carefully spray it on tender seedlings and blooms.
  14. It is a ready-to-use spray.
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Conclusion

  1. Point to remember, killing all insects present in your vegetable garden is not the desired goal.
  2. A healthy ecosystem needs plenty of beneficial insects, fungi, microbes, etc. both on the plants and in the soil.
  3. So introducing other predatory insects or building suitable habitat in your garden, and increasing soil fertility are some effective pest management tactics for your vegetable garden.
  4. If you are concerned about organic gardening, using botanical insecticides are the best options to control and eliminate insects quickly.
  5. Prefer to use low toxicity insecticide as strong insecticides also kill the beneficial and predatory insects that are your best friends in controlling the target pest.
  6. Store unused material in its original container at a storage area or in a locked cabinet.
  7. Properly wash all treated vegetables before eating them.

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