You could always get a bunch of lady bugs and then she'd be really pleased with you.

DE (Diatomaceous Earth) is another good eco-safe option. Crushed sea fossils. Works on many things. The only reason not to use is on tomatoes is the stuff kills lady bugs as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sinfonian's garden adventure

The question was, and still is, "How long will this (SOAP) take to work?"
LOL, wishing for lady bugs is not going to make the BAD bugs go away. Been 3 hours and bugs are still there.
Black Flag, one zap and bugs are dead! LOL, I want my GMO tomatoes!

How long it takes to work on aphids depends on how strong the mix was and whether you sprayed the aphids themselves or just the tops of the leaves. The soap spray has to hit the aphid to kill it.

1 T per gallon of water is the standard recipe for soapy water spray, misted on the pests on the underside of the leaves. Do not drench the plants as it can burn the leaves and do not apply it in the heat of the day or the in the direct sun.

So assuming all that - 24 hours will kill them. The easiest and fastest thing to do is just to hose them off with a blast of water from the garden hose - don't even need the soap.

However, tomato plants are quite tolerant of aphids and they do little damage except in cases of extreme infestation - such as when the gardener uses way too much N fertilizer which attracts them.

Not the same can be said of spider mites. And stronger measures are often required to control them. Something along the line of squishing them with your fingers if there are just a few. ;)

Dave

i had extreme Aphids on my tomatoe and pepper plants i bought a bottle of NEEM OIL mixed it accordinly sprayed with a garden sprayer and Poof they are gone, i am sure they will be back but the extreme infestastion is over use this oil accordingly and it will do wonders also it is all organic!!!!

Okay, is the next morning and there is little or no movement from the bugs. I am more worried about the Spider mites as they are to hard for me to see. I used about a tablespoon of soap in a quart spray bottle and yes, I sprayed the underside of the leaves. This morning I sprayed the plants down with the hose sprayer to get the soap and dead bugs off. I will crush and boil some chili peppers to spray for mites if I see any sign of them today. Tomorrow I use the Black flag!
Dave, I did give these plants one last 1/2 strength shot of N fertilizer, 5 June, about 3/4 cup per plant. Next treatment is not until 1st of Aug. and will be 10-24-10. Also 1/2 strength. I think I just wanted one last jump in growth due to out shortened season. Now it is all about the fruit.

Yeah, I'd be much more concerned about the spider mites too. Aphids, I ignore for the most part. But then I'm not big on all that N feeding either ;). I focus on phospates and micro-nutrients more so I only have minimal problems with aphids.

Dave

I will be doing the same. As I said, I was looking for one last jump in growth due to our shortened season.
I made a mad dash home to La Pine and checked for aphids there. WHEW, none. I have never had them in La Pine.
I found an old bag of 0 - 54- 0 while going through some old gardening things of my Grandmother's. Was labeled with a magic marker so I do not know anything more about it. I may try it on the tomatilloes next month.

I have heard many positive remarks about Neem Oil. I'm afraid it's almost too late to save my pepper plants, but I may try to find some of it for my tomato plants once they get older. Any suggestions on a store to buy it at (middle TN area)? I can't seem to find it anywhere yet. Of course, I've only checked like 3 places so far.

tn_veggie_gardner
Have you tried your local nursery? I drive mine bananas as I am a black flag kind of guy, lol. Wally World has it here in central Oregon so they should have it where you are at.
DO NOT USE MORE THAN A TEASPOON OF SOAP PER QUART if you go that route. I used a table spoon and now everything looks sick.
Please have good luck,
James

Ok...i'll check Wall World again. Maybe not in the gardening section, i'm guessing. That's where I looked, of course. What section of the store was it in? Thanks.

I'm having a terrible problem with spider mites in my garden, too. They started on the tomatoes and they're just everywhere now. I'm using the neem oil spray and that seems to be working. I completely cut down all my lettuces and spinach and am letting them regrow. Hopefully I will have this under control by the time they pop up again. I think you have to wait and spray every three days for 12 days or so before you can tell it's working.

Hey, I'm not a greenie, but I would show great caution before using the raid. I've never heard of anyone using it on their plants before. I'm sure someone in the garden section could give you a safe alternative. I tried the tobacco tea on one of my tomatoes earlier in the season and it nearly killed it. I'll never do that again. Also, I've heard it makes the toms and peppers less resistant to mosaic (yikes!) I can't help you more. My garden is small enough that I'm still using the "squish" method of bug control.

carolynp, All non-organics get the Black flag or Raid label when I refer to them. Miracle-gro gets applied to all fertilizers, organic or not.
Is just me.