Are aphids attacking your plants? Try this tomato foliage spray – an easy, DIY hack recommended by a vegetable gardening expert

I'm always on the lookout for simple solutions to deter garden pests, and if they can be made at home, even better. So, when a DIY aphid-tackling spray fell onto my radar recently, I was intrigued – especially due to its surprising key ingredient: tomato leaves.

I came across this natural pest control hack via a video on Instagram, where it was posted by gardening expert and founder of Gardenary Inc., Nicole Burke. Using tomato leaves to get rid of aphids was a new concept to me, and, as I'm tending to my own tomato crop this year, I had to find out more.

Nicole kindly answered my curious questions, including how she discovered this trick and whether the spray can be stored for reuse. If you're looking to try this tip at home, too, here are all the essentials you need to know.

How to get rid of aphids using a tomato foliage DIY spray

In her video, Nicole notes that tomato leaves contain alkaloids that are toxic to aphids as well as mites, and she tells me that gardeners have been using tomato leaf spray as a natural pest deterrent for generations.

'I first learned about it from an old family friend in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, which is one of the tomato capitals of the U.S,' she says. 'When I was just starting my gardening business, he shared all kinds of tomato hacks with me, and this one stuck!

'I tried it out in my own garden and quickly saw how effective it was,' she continues. 'I've been using it to keep aphids and other pests at bay ever since.'

Nicole Burke

Nicole Johnsey Burke is the founder of Gardenary Inc., and the author of three gardening books: Kitchen Garden Revival; Leaves, Roots and Fruit; and The Five-Minute Gardener. Gardenary is an online garden company that makes gardening easy by supplying raised beds and trellis kits, garden planners, organic seeds, beautiful tools, and video courses.

How to make the tomato foliage DIY spray

So, how do you make this homemade bug spray? Well, as demonstrated in Nicole's video, the process is super simple.

All you need to do is chop up some tomato leaves, pop them in a jug, add some water, then leave them to soak for 24 hours.

'Always use cool or room-temperature water,' Nicole says. 'Hot water can damage the beneficial compounds in the leaves. You’ll want just enough water to completely cover the chopped tomato leaves so they can soak thoroughly.'

Once 24 hours have passed, strain the mixture and transfer the liquid to a spray bottle. Nicole says a fine mesh strainer or a piece of cheesecloth works perfectly – 'This helps you avoid leaf bits that could clog your spray bottle.'

What plants to use the tomato foliage DIY spray

Apply the spray to leaves that have been affected by the sap-sucking interlopers. Nicole says it works well on salad greens, herbs, beans, and other tender plants that often attract aphids and chewing insects.

'Just be careful not to use it on plants in the nightshade family, since they can be sensitive to compounds from their own leaves,' she adds. This includes eggplants and potatoes.

Always remember to wash your harvested homegrown crops thoroughly before eating them.

FAQs

How long does the spray take to work, and should it be reapplied?

'You’ll usually notice pests slowing down within a day or two, but it’s not a one-and-done solution,' Nicole says. She recommends reapplying it every few days in the early morning or evening, especially after rainfall or watering, until the infestation is under control.

Once made, will the spray store well?

Nicole says that this spray is best used fresh. 'If you have extra, you can store it in the fridge for up to three days, but the effectiveness decreases the longer it sits. I recommend making only what you need for each round of treatment.'

Other plants can have unexpected benefits, too. Nasturtiums, for instance, aren't just colorful ground cover plants but can also reduce pest problems in three different ways.

Your kitchen cupboard can also provide some bug-busting solutions: try using coffee grounds to get rid of slugs, or cream of tartar to deter ants.