Help! My vegetable garden is going to the bugs, but I don't know what they are or how to get rid of them!

Question

Squash bugs killed all my squash, and are now working on my canteloupe. Nothing seems to kill them. My cherry tomatoes and Big Boy tomatoes are being devoured by something that I can not seem to find. Each tomato looks as though it has been mauled by a chainsaw. And now red and black ants are making a smorgasboard out of my okra. Please help me get rid of these insects! In a couple more weeks, I won't have any vegetables left. 10 points to the first person with a solution that I have not tried!

Answer 1

Insecticidal soap works well with most insects. It is safe for you and the environment. You must respray it often. Good luck!

Answer 2

The insecticide soap idea is good.

We've had good results with Sevin dust.  It's water soluble so like the soap you have to reapply it regularly.

When I'm going for instant results, I put rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle.  Labor intensive, I know, but the alcohol works pretty much on contact at least with soft-bodied bugs and it's okay to use on vegetables.