Full question:
‘I have been germinating my seeds indoors. The plants are well established, however I’ve just noticed one of the tomatoes looked sick. The leaves have bubbling and there are minute white insects (I assume) on top – not a lot. Checking the other plants several are affected, included my capsicums. Please help!!’

Our response:
From the description of the leaves bubbling, it sounds like aphids sucking the goodness out of the seedlings. Aphids are attracted to plants that are stressed, even if just a little bit. Lots of air movement keeps them at bay and if the seedlings are inside with not much air movement, that will possibly be why they’ve been able to get established. If you make up a solution of water with a good squirt of dishwashing liquid (has to be an Ecostore-type, friendly to nature) and shower your seedlings with this, it will cause the aphids to stick to the seedlings and asphyxiate them. If you have neem oil on hand, that will do an even better job, but there’s no point in buying it especially. We’re fairly confident you should be able to get rid of them. All the best!