A beautiful and healthy garden is possible without the use of expensive and often hazardous chemicals. The following are a number of natural recipes to create safe and effective deterrents to bugs and other pests. With a little effort, you will be doing your garden and the environment a big favour.
All-Purpose Insect Spray
1 garlic bulb
1 all onion
1 tbsp (15 ml) cayenne pepper
1 quart (litre) water
1 tbsp (15 ml) liquid soap (hand soap only)
Chop and grind garlic & onion, add cayenne and mix with water. Let steep 1 hour, then add liquid soap. Store the mixture in a covered jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Use it as a spray wherever insects are causing a problem.
| PROBLEMS | SOLUTION | RECIPE
|
| Aphids, thrips | Stinging nettle spray | Cover 1 quart (1 litre) of nettles with water – with lid on, steep for 3 weeks – dilute with 7 parts water |
| Aphids, June beetles, black spot, fungus diseases | Rhubarb spray | Steep 6 rhubarb leaves in 2 to 3 quarts (2 to 3 litres) boiling water |
| Chewing/sucking insects, mildew, leaf spot, rust, spore disease | Garlic spray | Steep 3 cloves of garlic, 1 medium onion and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of very hot pepper in 1 quart (1 litre) of water for 10 minutes; strain. Can be diluted with water 1:4. |
| Chewing/sucking insects | Pyrethrum spray | Steep 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of dry flowers heads in two quarts (2 litres) of hot water. Pyrethrum (Chrysanthemum cinerariaeflloum) is an attractive perennial with marguerite daisy-like flowers |
| White flies | Mullein spray | Steep 1 part mashed mullein leaves with 5 parts of water |
| Aphids, asparagus larvae, black spot, scale insects | Tomato leaves | Steep 10 chopped tomato leaves and 1 chopped onion in ½ cup (120 ml) of alcohol for a few minutes, apply with a swab. |
| Spider mites, cabbage worms | Salt solution | 1 ounce (28 grams) table salt in one gallon (4 litres) of water |
| Mosaic disease on tomatoes and peppers | Skim milk spray | Sour milk has been used against cabbage worms |
| Potato blight, black spot, yellowing tomato leaves | Manure tea
(liquid) |
½ commercial bag of manure or 1 mesh onion bag full of old manure and straw steeped in half of a large plastic garbage can of water. |
