What to use to protect Tomatoes and other veggies

[MJCM]

My wife has a veggie garden and is not using any chemicals on the veggies. (so a chemical free garden)

 

But do you guys have any recommendations for a "friendly" and easy way to protect the tomatoes and other Veggies like Lettuce etc

 

For example the tomatoes, some kind of animal is drilling a hole in them (even when they are still green) and eats the tomato from the inside.

 

Thx in advance

 

[Foghorn]

Baking powder with vinegar can water it down

[LukKrueng]

Looks beautiful. The fact that it's detached from the soil already protects the plants from many pests.

There are many organic pesticides but they are only repel the pests, not killing them and after trying many such products I came to a conclusion that they are worthless. You can also try to spray soaped water (can use organic soak as well), tobacco water (you can buy cheap tobacco in most local market. You soak the tobacco in water over night and then spray the water) or chili water - same way as tobacco, but crush the chilies before soaking.

All those solutions will deter some pests but not all, and any rain will wash them off the plants.

Best to spray early morning or early evening when the sun is not very strong.

Good luck.

[Aussieroaming]

Plant basil with tomato....the basil acts like a pesticide to help protect the tomatoes.

[rwill]

Build one of those bug net enclosures.  Like they use for melon farms.  They are like a greenhouse but with insect screen instead of solid plastic sheets.

[bbudd]

neem oil as a diluted spray works for me

[greg71]

Wood vinegar might be suitable for your needs .. 

[CM4Me]

We have a 6x3m insect proof greenhouse (like rwill outlined above), plus its covered with shade cloth.

 

We grow a variety of herbs and vegies (incl Toms) without the use of chemicals, for our own consumption ???? 

[AhFarangJa]

6 hours ago, CM4Me said:

We have a 6x3m insect proof greenhouse (like rwill outlined above), plus its covered with shade cloth.

 

We grow a variety of herbs and vegies (incl Toms) without the use of chemicals, for our own consumption ???? 

I am now looking at making a greenhouse similar to the one you mention. May I be so bold as to ask if a picture is possible to give me a way ahead. At the moment I cannot seem to grow anything, I think the sun is too strong.

Thanks for any info gratefully received.

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, Aussieroaming said:

Plant basil with tomato....the basil acts like a pesticide to help protect the tomatoes.

Mix with garlic and you will have instant Pesto... 

[Crossy]

14 hours ago, bbudd said:

neem oil as a diluted spray works for me

 

Yeah, neem is what Madam uses although she adds some of the local tobacco to the "tea" she sprays on the trees (nobody in their right mind would actually smoke the stuff).

 

[MJCM]

Thx guys for the replies, appreciated.

 

The picture you see is just a small part of it (this plot is already around 20x4), so a Greenhouse as some of you suggested is not an option (I suggested it and the wife said "Paeng mak" )

 

I asked my wife (she is at the funeral of her father) and she has used tobacco (yaa sen) in the past and that didn't help.

 

9 minutes ago, Crossy said:

nobody in their right mind would actually smoke the stuff).

 

My sparky smokes it, he was more then willing to take approx 300g (the wife had left) to take with him after he worked for us ????

[recom273]

I’m in no way experienced - but Neem worked for me this past year.

 

I started growing leafy veg and immediately attracted a swarm of butterflies, have started drawing up plans and costing for a mesh greenhouse.

[MJCM]

1 hour ago, AhFarangJa said:

I am now looking at making a greenhouse similar to the one you mention. May I be so bold as to ask if a picture is possible to give me a way ahead. At the moment I cannot seem to grow anything, I think the sun is too strong.

Thanks for any info gratefully received.

If you want inspiration, go to DoHome (Surin) (where iQ used to be) and they have a Greenhouse for sale, it's I believe 3-4m long and approx 1-2m wide.

 

Ps: I saw this one at DoHome Buriram but I guess DoHome everywhere keep the same stuff ????

[CM4Me]

AhFarangJa - Google  "garden green houses 'thailand'" they will give you all the ideas you need

good luck

[drtreelove]

There are pests that will breach greeenhouse protection (greenhouse-thrips, spider-mites and others); biopesticide spray programs are tedious with a need for precise timing, frequent applications, and require a level of knowledge that renders them often misunderstood, misused and therefore ineffective.  Companion planting may help to some extent in some cases, but the only real plant pest and disease protection comes with cultivating natural resistance and immunity by building soil fertility, beneficial soil biology and soil structure. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides will work against this process of building natural resistance. 

 

Resources for education along these lines: Kiss The Ground, Dr Elaine Ingham's Soil Food Web School, Brian Kempf's Advancing Eco Agriculture, Matt Powers The Permaculture Student, and others under the categories of Soil-Food-Web and Regenerative Agriculture.