Should I Dust My Tomato And Pepper Plants?

Q: I planted a couple of tomato plants and peppers recently. Do you recommend dusting the plants before any blooms or bad insects are present?

A: I can’t recommend applying pesticides without knowing what you’re trying to control. Putting insecticide out indiscriminately would inevitably hurt pollinators. I would much rather you keep an eye on the plants and, if you see a problem, apply the most efficacious remedy then. Most problems have cultural, organic and chemical solutions. Remember, the best pesticide is the gardener’s shadow.