If you’re growing tomatoes in your garden this summer, you’ll know how rewarding it feels to get out, pick them, and use them as you cook. Home-grown tomatoes always seem to taste better when you’ve put the effort in yourself, and thanks to the sun we’ve had this summer, you should have a pretty impressive crop.
But things like weeds and disease can end up plaguing your tomato plants if you aren’t careful. To avoid this ruining your hard work, experts have advised making a simple spray using a couple of staple ingredients you’ve probably already got in the cupboard. The pros from Tasting Table say baking soda and vegetable oil are excellent for warding off pests and keeping your tomato plants healthy.
Right now is peak harvesting time for your tomatoes, so if you want to give them an extra boost before picking them, then this natural remedy is ideal.
But not only does it make your tomatoes healthier – it can also apparently make them taste better. The experts said: “This simple gardening hack has several benefits, the most important of which is that it changes the pH of the soil by lowering the acidity.
“The result is a change in the soil chemistry that yields sweeter fruit.”
How to make your tomato plants healthier
To make a DIY tomato plant spray that will ward of pests and keep weeds away as well as potentially making them sweeter, you’ll need the following:
- One tablespoon of baking soda
- One tablespoon of vegetable oil
- Splash of dish soap
- 4.5L water
Put everything in a bottle and use it to spray your tomato plants every few days. However, be careful not to apply it too often – baking soda can cause a buildup of salt, which could negatively affect nutrient absorption.
Fungal infections are more likely to appear on your tomato plants when the soil around them is acidic. Thankfully, the baking soda can help eliminate the growth of harmful fungus on your plants.
Doing this can also act as a suitable weed killer. It’s very common to see weed seedlings sprouting up around your tomato plants, and the baking soda will help to stop new weeds from becoming too powerful.