Bugs attacking my plants please help?

I have 6 growing in a small area and only a few are being affected. I have posted photos. The only thing I have used on them is tomato food every 3/4 weeks. I have been doing a soap and water bath every week to try and stop the bugs. I have also put pepper around them because I heard this keeps bugs away. When I check on them I am not seeing many bugs, some ants and a few weird yellow/black beetles. I know the yellow circles are maybe from spider mites but I am not seeing any when I spray the soap and water? I heard there is an organic bug spray that you can use but I am trying to avoid that. Please Please any help would be great. Hope the photos help.

Any ideas on how to keep bugs away naturally would be very nice thanks..

Could be pests in your dirt.

Some of the damage looks like slugs. Do they ever get slime on them?

No they never feel slimy...I have been seeing these black and yellow beetles all over them...I have been spraying them with the water/soap mixture...My big one is still growing but a lot of the leafs are looking really bad...

I had a big bug problem.. threw some chopped up peices of garlic on it and it's all good now

Did you just cut it up and throw it on the ground? I tried that with pepper..

Yes, I chopped it up and put it around the plant.. you need to change it every 5 days, i saw one starting to mold and more growing roots! lol

a fresh clove of garlic will do the trick!

are you growing outdoors?

Neem Oil! A natural plant extract that will not harm your plants, most bugs hate the taste and will stay clear!

does the garlic thing really work??? i need to try that cus i have little little yellow or white things crawling around chillin in the lines of the leaves...