Q.I put 6-7 mothballs around my tomato plants. Are the tomatoes safe to eat?
The moth balls were about 10-12 inches away from the main stem of each tomato plant. The plants have a lot of beautiful tomatoes, but the plants themselves are dying –turning yellowish tan with dark spots all over..Is this the mothballs?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Mothballs can be very dangerous if the vapors are exposed to the air. They are meant to be used in closed containers. They are not intended for garden use and the chemicals could have leached into the soil and your plants through rainwater. Also the chemicals,which turn to gas when exposed to air, can deposit on plant leaves.
I would not take a chance on eating the tomatoes, especially since the plants look suspicious. I would pull up the plants and tomatoes and discard them and chalk it up to a learning experience.
