NATURAL RECIPES FOR INSECTICIDES AND FUNGICIDES

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.