Growing your own vegetables in the garden guarantees that your veggies will always be fresh, nutritious and is actually an excellent way to keep yourself active. However, insects represent a key component of a healthy garden ecosystem, so their presence shouldn’t be alarming.
But what if insects and bugs get out of control, to the point that they destroy your harvest? How can you protect your vegetables from harmful pests?
In this article, we’ll help you find the best insecticide for vegetable garden, including organic insecticide options. We’ll also review some good products, so you can choose the most suitable one.
In This Guide
How to Choose the Best Insecticide for Vegetable Garden
Your garden is the perfect environment for pests, bugs, and insects to thrive. This is why choosing a potent yet safe insecticide should be a top priority. Here are a few things that you need to take into consideration.
Active Ingredients
Although chemical insecticides are potent, they can harm your plants in the long run. They usually persist in the environment and can leave a residue on your veggies. These chemical compounds act fast, but they kill both good and bad bugs.
Organic compounds work better because they’re not toxic. Insecticidal soap is safe, but it doesn’t stay effective once it dries out. Potent bacteria can also work to kill pests without harming your plants.
Neem oil is another efficient compound, but you should keep it away from pets until the compound has dried. Pyrethrin is another potent ingredient, but it’s wide-spectrum and can kill good and bag bugs.
Target Pests
Make sure that your insecticide works for the pests present in your garden. Some ingredients like insecticidal soap work best when the bugs haven’t reached the maturity stage. Some insecticides will also work on all bugs, so you shouldn’t apply them to bees and other pollinators.
Application
Although insecticides can be available in powder or granular form, liquid formulas are more common and easier to apply. Some insecticides come ready-mixed, or you might need to mix the concentrated formula with water. Make sure that you’re following the optimum mixing and application instructions for the best results.
Reviews of the Best Insecticide for Vegetable Garden {Organic Options Included}
As we searched the market, we found reliable insecticides that can help eliminate destructive bugs without harming your veggies or killing the good bugs that help pollinate the plants in your garden.
These products are also safe for humans and pets and are easy to apply, so you don’t need any special equipment to keep your garden pest-free.
Let's take a closer look at each of these options.
Monterey LG6135 Garden Insect Spray
Useful Spinosad bacteria in this organic insecticide treat plants and don’t produce any odors or toxic byproducts. The insecticide controls many pests and is a versatile product that you can use with vegetables, ornamental plants, and broadleaf weeds.
Just follow the optimum ratio to mix it with water, and apply it using a trigger or hose-end sprayer, and you will be able to apply it successfully. It’s safe around pets and degrades fast in the soil. It’s approved by the USDA National Organic Program and is OMRI listed for organic gardening.
Since it’s a concentrated formula, you only need 3 gallons of spray to cover an area of 1000 square feet. You can reapply it after a few days if necessary. However, you’ll need some time before you can see a result after using this product.
What We Like
- Concentrated formula.
- Organic composition with bacteria as the active ingredient.
- Works on a variety of pests and plants.
- Leaves no residue.
- Biodegradable and approved for organic farming.
What We Don’t Like
- It takes more time than other products.
Get more information on Monterey LG6135 Garden Insect Spray
Natria 706230A Insecticidal Soap Organic Miticide
This fast-acting insecticide is efficient during the various stages of pest life. It comes in a ready-to-apply sprayer for easy application.
It’s one of the most versatile and safest insecticides to use as it works on vegetables, fruits, flowers, trees, and even houseplants. It won’t leave a residue and is perfect for edible crops.
Thanks to its organic composition, this insecticide can be used up to the day of harvest. All you have to do is to wet all the plant parts, including the undersides of leaves. However, it shouldn’t be applied in strong sunlight as it might stress the plant.
What We Like
- Safe insecticidal soap.
- Organic composition that can be used with edible crops up to the day of harvest.
- Works on various types of plants, flowers, trees, and vegetables and gets rid of multiple pets.
- Comes mixed and ready to be applied.
- Safe to pets.
What We Don’t Like
- It might stress the plant when used in bright sunlight.
Get more information on Natria 706230A Insecticidal Soap Organic Miticide
Garden Safe 93179 Neem Based Insecticide
No products found.
This organic insecticide is OMRI listed for safe gardening. It can be safely used up to the day of harvest.
Neem oil is the main ingredient, and it disrupts the hormonal system of the bugs, preventing them from reaching maturity. It also contains other ingredients, so it’s a 3-in-1 product that works as an insecticide, fungicide, and miticide. It also works as a leaf polish on hardy plants.
Unlike other products, this can also be used as a dormant spray to target the overwintering eggs of pests. It also keeps your plants safe from rust and powdery mildew.
Since it’s quite potent, you shouldn’t apply it to sick, newly planted, or sensitive plants. It shouldn’t be sprayed in strong sunlight as it might burn the leaves. Although it’s not toxic, you need to keep pets away until it has completely dried.
What We Like
- Wide-spectrum product.
- Works as an insecticide, fungicide, and miticide.
- Can be used as a dormant spray to eliminate overwintering eggs.
- OMRI-listed.
What We Don’t Like
- Can burn plants.
- Should be kept away from pets.
No products found.
Bonide (BND857) Pyrethrin Garden Insect Spray
This is a potent insecticide that is designed to protect various types of plants, vegetables, and flowers. The main active ingredient is Pyrethrin which naturally occurs in chrysanthemum flowers, so it won’t negatively affect the ecosystem in your garden. It kills the bugs by targeting their nervous system.
Because it’s safe and quickly degrades, it can be used on your vegetables up to the day of harvest. It’s one of the easiest insecticides to apply, as you just need to mix it with water and apply it using a low-pressure sprayer or hand sprayer.
If you have pets around the house, this product will work for you. However, it’s also a broad-spectrum product, so it can kill honey bees.
What We Like
- Versatile insecticide that targets several bugs and works on different types of plants.
- Naturally-occurring active ingredient.
- Degrades quickly without leaving a residue.
- Easy to apply.
- Safe for pets.
What We Don’t Like
- Kills honey bees.
Get more information on Bonide (BND857) Pyrethrin Garden Insect Spray
Safer Brand 5118-6 Insect Killing Soap Concentrate
Made of potassium salts of fatty acids, this safe insecticide penetrates the cuticles of soft-bodied insects, causing them to dry out and to them upon contact. It’s a non-toxic formula that targets various pests and is OMRI-listed for organic farming.
It works on all types of vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants, shrubs, and flowers. It won’t harm your pets, and is safe to be used on veggies up to the day of harvest because it degrades and doesn’t persist in the environment. Just mix this concentrated formula with water and apply it with a trigger or pressure tank sprayer.
In some cases, you might need to apply multiple times to get rid of some pests like whiteflies. It works best before the pests reach maturity, where the cuticle becomes too hard to be penetrated.
What We Like
- Safe and potent formula.
- Non-toxic to pets.
- Kills a variety of pests upon contact.
- Degrades fast with no residue.
What We Like
- Might be applied several times.
- Works less with adult pests.
Looking to make the most of gardening this season? Check out these helpful guides:
- Best Mulch for Vegetable Garden
- How to Plan a Spring Garden
- Garden Plans You Should Be Making Right Now
- The Best Gardening Soil to Buy
- Finding the Best Gardening Knee Pads
Choosing the Best Garden Insecticide
There are many options on the market when it comes to garden insecticides.
Let's take a look at our options one more time.
Although there are lots of potent insecticides on the market, we chose Monterey LG6135 Garden Insect Spray as our top choice.
Thanks to its non-toxic formula, this product can be applied to all types of plants, flowers, and veggies. It degrades fast, eliminates harmful pests, and keeps your organic garden in the best condition.
Last update on 2022-08-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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