Don't let Aphids bug you

United States
January 28, 2016 7:14am CST
We have lived in the south for 15 years and have had veggie gardens at each home we've lived in. Our current is a downsized one! It is a raised bed, 8 x 16 and it has mushroom mulch instead of soil. It grows amazing veggies but our tomato plants always have one problem in common - Aphids. We start out with beautiful, healthy plants and get a good crop of 'maters, but within a few months the Aphids destroy the plants. My husband has tried various methods including yelling at the bugs but nothing worked so far. I did research earlier and have found a few tricks that we will try this summer: ) Aphids do not like certain plants, so be sure to plant them in or near the garden. They are: onions, garlic, mint, chives and petunias. I am not fond of the smell of garlic or onions myself! If you do plant mint you have to remember that it will take over the garden if left unchecked. ) Dust the bugs with flour (yes, flour from the kitchen) and it will make the Aphids dry up and fall off. They didn't say All purpose or bread flour, I guess the Aphids aren't picky. ) Save a banana peel and let it dry out. The cut it into 1-2 inch pieces and plant around the plant you have problems with. I've never bought a banana in my life so this could be a first. I am sure there are as many 'cures' for Aphids as there are gardeners. If you have used any of these methods or have one you would like to share, please feel free to do so. The more information the better. We won't let the bugs bug us this summer! Photo is mine.
17 people like this
17 responses
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
28 Jan 16
I've always used banana skins around roses as they are a good source of potassium, but I didn't know that they were an aphid deterrent. If you squirt them with washing up liquid in water, that's pretty good. Of course the best deterrent is the ladybirds - I'm always delighted to see them in my garden.
3 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
28 Jan 16
@jaboUK Banana skins sound a great idea. The aphids will slip on them and break a leg, thus stopping them from climbing on the plants.
2 people like this
• United States
28 Jan 16
We have very few ladybugs in this area. I think one thing we have to do for sure is to use Heirloom tomatoes, they are supposed to be bug resistant.
2 people like this
• United States
28 Jan 16
@Asylum LOL, I like that idea.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
28 Jan 16
I believe that ladybirds are a good way of controlling aphids, but have no idea how to attract any.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Jan 16
I read that - you have to buy ladybug larva and put it near the plant. I don't remember seeing it in Walmart however! LOL!
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
28 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill I doubt if they are on sale at the pet shop either. Maybe you could wander around collecting them.
• United States
28 Jan 16
@Asylum The only ladybugs we have unfortunately are the 'bad' kind - Asian Beetles aka brown lady bugs. We don't want to attract them, they are not nice bugs.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
22 Apr 16
I have aphid problem all the time. The problem gets worse in dry and hot weather. I think I will just blend garlic and then spray it on the plant. I sure do not want to plant garlic just to scare away the pests.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
23 Apr 16
@AbbyGreenhill If the plants are in the early stage, perhaps that will work. I do not like to spray when they are in fruit bearing stage.
• United States
22 Apr 16
I think we will use the dish soap and water in spray bottle...less stink!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
28 Jan 16
The flour works, the mint does not and it is invasive. When I see aphids I spray them with water and liquid soap, the aphids disappear in a couple of days. I do not have aphids on tomatoes, but they bug my gardenia.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
29 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill I hope it works for your tomatoes. Good luck.
• United States
28 Jan 16
We've sprayed them with bug spray and they don;t go away!
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Jan 16
@LadyDuck OK, I am making a note of this for my husband. Thanks.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
28 Jan 16
lovely garden i figured that might be our only way to prevent moles or whatever tunnels and tears up the yard from eating the roots
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Jan 16
I won't tell you how my husband got rid of them....
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Jan 16
@Jessicalynnt We had them worse last year than the year before. I'm afraid what this year will be....maybe you need a bigger bullet!
1 person likes this
• Centralia, Missouri
28 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill we've tried poison, traps, shooting, it only kills the ones we have, a few weeks later more show up, this area is riddled with them
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Jan 16
what?? 'cha aint ne'er bought a naner? there's a gazillion thingies that can be done with the peels - from aphid chasin' to water purification. i've always been a companion planter myself, intermixin' the fruit 'n veggie garden with flowerin' plants that attract beneficial bugs...who dine'n those pesky aphids's well's most others ('xcept fer those dang grasshoppers...). jest the way i grew up. any kinda flour'll do. they also dislike soapy water - jest be sure 'n spray under the leaves 'n all nooks'n crannies. best'f luck to ya! may we all've a great bounty from our efforts this upcomin' gardenin' season.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Jan 16
My husband is going to try a few of the suggestions and hope they work. Or if they don't we give up with 'maters.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill if'n ya mix in some flowerin' plants that ladybugs prefer, they'll help get those lil aphids under control. prayin' mantis's well - ya can e'en order 'em if'n ya aint got many 'round. i'd sure dislike givin' up those maters! battled grasshoppers 'round these parts the past few years. i've my fingers crossed that the biological control works finally! conned the gal 'cross the road into gettin' some's well. kinda a mute point i reckon when e'erybody else's feedin' 'em 'n providin' 'em nurseries (aka - weeds). we'll see!
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Jan 16
@crazyhorseladycx The only lady bugs were have here are the bad kind, the Asian beetles = they are good for noting. I think we also need to buy Herirloom tomatoes since they are supposed to be more resistant to bugs and such.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (158939)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Jan 16
You've never bought a banana?
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (158939)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill ....Right! We buy them all the time. I fix banana pudding at Thanksgiving and I layer sliced bananas, pudding and vanilla wafers. Very good!
• United States
29 Jan 16
nope....hard to believe right.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36434)
• Toccoa, Georgia
28 Jan 16
Thanks for this information because we get the same problem with certain plants in our garden each season.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Jan 16
Maybe we all can eliminate those buggers this year!
@amnabas (13742)
• Karachi, Pakistan
28 Jan 16
Nice curing tips for gardening and to get rid of Aphids.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Jan 16
I hope at lest one works!
@Fleura (29120)
• United Kingdom
28 Jan 16
Good luck! Aphids are the bane of my life - along with scale insects, clothes moths and woodworm.
• United States
29 Jan 16
We had a really ugly bug the year before - corn worm I think is the name - about 5 inches long, green, and my husband pulled it off the plant and it bit him.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Jan 16
@Fleura it was a shock to him for sure and that bug paid the price.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (29120)
• United Kingdom
29 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill Wow I haven't come across any bugs as aggressive as that!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
29 Jan 16
I gave up gardening years ago, except for herbs and tomatoes. Never had an aphid problem. I do know that potting mint keeps it from spreading. It works.
• United States
29 Jan 16
I remember many years ago my father planted mint and several years later he was sorry he did!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
29 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill I wanted mint, but thankfully was warned. We got rid of it to plant some shrubs in that area.
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
29 Jan 16
What?! you have never bought a banana?!!! Oh, I have not had a problem with Aphids.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Jan 16
Nope, never, I don't like them and neither does my husband so it's not a big deal.
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
28 Jan 16
Very interesting, I have to remember this. I'm not sure if we get Aphids but will have to check with my husband. Thanks for this info.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Jan 16
We only get them on tomato plants, I don't know if the ever 'bug' other plants.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
28 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill I hear you I don't know either. Hubby is the plant guy he might know.
@Ladypeace (2028)
• Singapore
28 Jan 16
You're cool for planting edible plants. We used to have a mango and papaya tree in my backyard. It bore us fruit every year and they were good to eat.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Jan 16
We enjoy eating fresh veggies!
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Jan 16
How come you never bought a banana in your life? Are you allergic? That's a beautiful veggie garden you have!!
• United States
29 Jan 16
They repeat on me so why buy/eat them.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154166)
• Canada
28 Jan 16
Surprised to read that you have never bought a banana in your life!!!
• United States
28 Jan 16
Not a food I ever cared for. They are worse than watermelon when it comes to making me belch.
@vickyrose (2235)
• Cooma, Australia
29 Jan 16
I love flower gardens and have petunias. Now I know why the aphids are at bay. That's a nice garden bed.
• United States
29 Jan 16
Thanks, by around August that little garden is full.