Tobaccofieldsforever 2026 grow log.

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

I tried growing rutabagas one year and they got eaten something terrible by aphids. I tried spraying soapy water to deal with them. The soap was Dr. Bronner's. The soap made the rutabagas taste like soap and the aphids would come back in force within a day or two anyways. So that would be my fear with using it on tobacco. I wonder about using diatomaceous earth on tobacco but I'm sure it can't be good to inhale. Some people here hose their plants down with plain water. The idea being to knock the aphids off of the plants. Since we are talking about tobacco, I wonder about making a tea from tobacco and spraying that on the aphids. Sounds strange, I know but I've done that for aphids on corn and it worked.

Yea I’ve read a couple things about neem oil possibly tainting the taste of tobacco and exactly the same thing is my fear with any soap. A nicotine insecticide isn’t a bad idea…thanks!!

 

[deluxestogie]

A nicotine insecticide isn’t a bad idea…thanks!!

You are proposing to spray nicotine onto insects that are currently enjoying eating nicotine.

Bob

 

[Wombat_smokes]

You are proposing to spray nicotine onto insects that are currently enjoying eating nicotine.

Bob

An intense concentration, mind you. A tincture with enough nicotine to kill a horse. I've read that soft body pests like aphids and trips are susceptible to high doses of nicotine.

 

[deluxestogie]

susceptible to high doses of nicotine

...as is human skin and human toddlers. I would discourage it.

Bob

 

[StoneCarver]

I didn't mean to stir up controversy. I learned about using tobacco as a garden insecticide from native people; so there is a precedent. Of course, you wouldn't want to use it on just anything as you could also spread TMV. I learned that the hard way one year when I sprayed my tomato plants; it didn't kill the tomatoes but they stopped growing and didn't produce anything that year. I'd also express caution in regards to whether or not the tobacco will absorb the nicotine from a tobacco tea sprayed on them. In regards to skin exposure, a person should always use all the same PPE and protective practices as when spraying any insecticide.

 

[Tobaccofieldsforever]

You are proposing to spray nicotine onto insects that are currently enjoying eating nicotine.

Bob

Ha…this of course crossed my mind as well but he said it worked on the aphids on his corn. I decided shortly after reading that that I likely will not pursue that idea due to the dangers involved in concentrated nicotine. It is also harmful to…well, everything in large enough doses so I don’t want to wipe out all living things within a 5 yard radius. I will likely just deal with the aphids or spray them off with water repeatedly. I also read other reports of people saying nicotine tea did nothing to aphids. They are really just highly annoying and leave behind their sticky sugar excrement that makes dealing with the leaves more difficult and attracts ants and wasps and bees and on and on. Also, whatever their sucking of plants juicy essence does to the tobacco as well. why am I deciding to not kill them again???!! There is definitely a precedent to using nicotine tea…I have heard about it for years but never really tried it myself…