Pest Control in an Organic Tomato Garden

Natural Enemies

• Beneficial insects, also known as natural enemies, can help rid tomato plants of bad insects. Parasitic wasps, lacewing larvae and lady beetles, among others, feed on the eggs and larvae of whiteflies, thrips and aphids that attack tomato plant leaves.
  
  

Handpicking

• Tomato hornworms often feed on tomato plants and their fruits. One of the best ways to get rid of the fat green worms is picking them off by hand. Other bugs can also be removed by hand, although insects such as aphids and whiteflies can be very tiny and hard to see.
  
  

Sprays and Powders

• Organic gardeners sometimes use sprays or powders made from naturally occurring substances to control certain insects. One option includes diatomaceous earth, a powder made from petrified sea life. Some sprays, such as pyrethrin, rotenone and ryania, include natural poisons made from plant parts. Insecticidal soaps created from fatty acids can also help eliminate pests.