Just like last year, I planted a bunch o’ tomatoes in the garden in the back yard. Unlike last year, my tomatoes this year came under attack (ATTACK I say!) by bugs. First it was worms (tomato worms? Hornworms? I don’t know. Icky worms). Then came the stinkbugs. All my tomatoes were being eaten and rotting before they even started to ripen and I hadn’t gotten a single tomato for me to eat.
I wanted to evict the bugs, for sure, but I didn’t want to do it with a bunch of chemicals — sort of defeats a large part of the purpose of growing them in the back yard, you know?
Enter: cornstarch. Seriously! Now my garden looks like this:
I use a powdered sugar shaker full of cornstarch to cover the leaves, the tomatoes, and the ground around them. The plants look ridiculous, sure, but guess what? The tomatoes are MINE again!
I’m not sure exactly why this works, honestly — I don’t know if it kills off the bugs or if it just keeps them away; as long as I’m the only one eating the tomatoes, I’m good. It even deters Vinny the squirrel a bit which is an unexpected bonus. A quick wash in the kitchen sink removes all the cornstarch and I’m good to go. Tomato sandwiches for everyone! 
So glad to know this trick is also keeping squirrels away!! That has been my big problem the past couple of years, so I finally gave up and didn’t plant any tomatoes this year. Next year I will, and I will use this tip!
My! I learn something new every day. Thank you for this handy, inexpensive, eco friendly tip. I love squirrels like I love home-grown veggies. This will come in handy.
This is such a great tip! I sprinkled my tomato plant and herbs with cornstarch on your suggestion and hooray no more worms gnawing on my plants! It is fantastic! My deck looks a little crazy covered in powder, but it works!
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You can also plant marigolds by your tomatoes to keep the bugs away.
Who knew?!? I had hornworms at the end of the season last year, if they show their ugly heads again I’m dusting them ASAP! Great tip, thanks!!
Awesome! I am going to try this! I got chipmunks, squirrels and fire ants all eating my tomatoes. They don’t eat basil, mint or peppers though, just my tomatoes. Tomorrow, 1st stop in the grocery store, Corn Starch!
I have tried the cornstarch now, but I’ve got a bad aphid (or maybe stink bug?) problem and now the grasshoppers have showed up. At first it was just on one plant and I was happy to let them have that one and leave the others alone, but now they all have it, even with the cornstarch. Oh well, I had a good run at the beginning of the season. Next year, I’ll start with the cornstarch before the bugs even hit and keep re-applying! Here’s hoping!
Re-applying is definitely key! I have to head back out there after it rains (you know, both times it rained this summer) and cover them again or the stinkbugs are back way too soon. Here’s hoping for bug-free tomatoes for all of us next year!
So far none of above problems for our tomatoes ( 50 plants a year ) but wind is big. I am going to try this on Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cabbage and if it works, it will be super big for us. Right now after 2 cuttings we need to remove the plants and burn them for the worms.
My garden group has a couple of questions regarding this idea!
How does it effect photosynthasis regarding the plants and does it wash off in rain or cluster?
I am POSITIVE that y’all know more about gardening than I do.
It just washes off in rain (or if, say, your five year old is watering the garden with a hose… just for example), and I haven’t noticed any ill effects photosynthesis-wise.
You can use a blacklight at night to find the worms also.
Has anyone tried this to get Japanese beetles off rose bushes? They’re eating everything in sight!
Plant rue to deter Japanese beetles.
It’s not beyond reason to think that the Monsanto BT gene product that is in corn to prevent corn borer worm and other insects eating the corn is still present in the cornstarch… and killing the caterpillars that are eating your plants. GMO is everywhere and pervasive. The BT gene has spread on the wind to non GMO fields.
you can use black pepper to keep bugs off anything of the cabbage family it works
you can use black pepper on any of the cabbage family for bugs. It realy works.
Im trying this today on my toms which are being ravaged by cabbage moth caterpillars. And Im in Australia using non GM modified cornflour, so we shall see if the above hypothesis has any merit.
Please report back and let me know how it goes!
Please let me know if this works on grasshoppers, they ate everything Ib my garden last year.
Oh no! I don’t actually know if it does, but I think it’s worth a shot!
Anyone know if the cornstartch works on earwigs? That’s my biggest colprit.
you can make a beer trap ~ use a babyfood (or similar size jar)place some stale beer in jar and lay on it’s side in the garden the earwigs crawl right in. you can also use the tuna can and bury the can about half way into the soil. we have found this works on the slugs that attack our tomato plants
Are the plants wet when you apply the cornstarch?
I did them dry and the cornstarch seemed to cling pretty well, but I would assume that it would stick even better right after a watering!
Thanks much!
Anytime!
I’m so excited to read this, I gave up growing anything because of squirrels. I’m going to try this year, thanks!
Defintely gonna try this..I have problems with all of those critters an bugs you are all mentioning an I really dont want to use any chemicals..Will let you know how it works..Thanks for the tips..Yes we do learn something new everyday!!!
Thank you everyone for the very helpful information. I live in North Carolina and my tomatoes and compost have been invaded by fire ants.