The best prevention is paying attention. Dozens of critters, insects, fungus, etc...all waiting for the perfect time/timing to have a taste...
The best prevention is taking the time early every morning, with a cup of coffee, to check on progress or to notice a change. Look under leaves, note a nibble or hole in a leaf...
Look up a specific problem before action. Just treat one issue at a time...often it is just a stream of water, picking off a few uninvited guests, a mild insecticidal soap just on the underside of one plant...
Once identified, you may find the life cycle of and insect is just a few days and harmless to the crop...
-i've dealt with three minor issues so far...no harm to crops, no need to spray...no other beneficial insects were harmed by heavy spraying...
A healthy garden is not a perfect garden...always something happens that can't be controlled due to weather conditions, etc...so expect some problems and deal with them as they come...

With very few exceptions most all insecticides are broad spectrum and will kill off the beneficial insect as well as the pests. Spraying, unless there is a problem, is never a good idea.

Preventative insect control for a veggie garden would involve companion planting or the planting of other plants in proximity that either attract the insects away from the veggies or repel them altogether.

I've attached one link but there are many others you could research.

Here is a link that might be useful: companion plantings

I'll add that this is the time for you to educate yourself about the MANY non harmful critters that you are likely to come across in your garden. Check out the zillions of websites with good images of beneficial insects and/or visit your local library or bookstore.

The more knowledgable you are about what you see, the better able you will be to protect your garden.

I haven't yet had a problem with bugs

==>>> then you do NOT poison mother earth just for the hell of it ...

do some research on IPM .. integrated pest management..

the basic tenant of such ... is that you do not.. willy nilly prevent anything..

you pay attention.. and REACT to a know threat ... and not every bit of acne or blemish.. is a threat .. be sure to understand.. that you need only react.. when a population is significant enough to actually harm a plant ...

i find it hard to contemplate.. how others are encouraging you to coat the earth with product...

crikey.. relax... enjoy your garden.. and when you find an actual pest.. we can help you ID it.. and find the LEAST invasive remedy ... but until them.. DO NOT USE ANYTHING...

right kimmer?

ken

MrChris123, here is a sort of key which I devised some time ago for some employees.

1. Know what the healthy plant/organ/tissue should look like.
2. Inspect or scout weekly.
3. Determine that an abnormality exists.
4. Ascertain the causative organism and / or environmental condition.
5. Decide if there is a need for human intervention.
6. Choose the most benign treatment.
7. Go to 2.
   Pretty straightforward, isn't it?
   Well yes ... until you get into the details.
   For some of us, then is when the fun starts!
   The others?
   "Chacun a son gout!"

Ken, who's encouraging him to coat the earth with pesticides? Or are you ranting for the heck of it, lol.