Pepper spray for garden pest control

Question

This will be my 3rd year growing a vegetable garden and I’m learning from prior experiences. My 3 main challenges are powder mildew, insect (I think aphid), and squirrels that like my tomatoes way too much. Mildew spray is expensive. I skimped last year, not this year. I’ve read that pepper sprays are a good repellent for insects and mammals. Here’s my unusual question: I’m prior law enforcement and have cases of old police pepper spray. Would using this hurt the fruit. It’s basically the same as commercial/homemade pepper spray. Just much more concentrated and oily. I’d love to spray a squirrel directly (j/k) but I’d settle for it as an effective deterrent. As long as it would harm the plant. Suggestions?

Answer 1

*wouldn’t