HomeMade Pesticides

[katwillny]

Hey all,

Im finding a lot of little bugs in the garden which eat the leaves of the potatoes and legumes. I noticed today that some of the tomatoes are turning yellow and on a few i found small holes as if something is eating them from the bottom. Its mainly the ones closest to the soil. Any suggestion on how i can rid of these bugs without going all out and using pesticides? Id hate to put any commercial or chemicals on stuff we are going to consume. thanks. all.

 

[Delta-T]

tomatoes are usually pretty resistant to things. I'm not sure about all the bugs, but I use a homemade bug killer on scarab beetles/japanese beetles that works in about 1 minute.

1 cup water
1 tablespoon dish soap
1 bunch of chopped up tomatoe leaves
1 bunch chopped up catmint leaves (I'd guess just about any mint type would work, we grow catmint)

mix all up, put in sprayer, squirt on bugs directly. I had read that only really voracious infestations can impact tomatoes because their leaves are toxic to most bug (I dunno, but I read it) and I know mint is used in various horticultural oils for pest controls so I figured it couldn't hurt. seems to work pretty good...at least on beetles. good luck

 

[fishingpol]

Not home made, but I really like a product called k+ Neem. It has the oil of the Neem tree, and is all organic. I use it on the rose bushes and clematis that get aphids and works well. I have the spray bottle and it has lasted 2 seasons so far. I picked it up at a box store.


http://www.arborgrow.com/neem.cfm

 

[Normande]

Hydrated lime, good for the soil, hell on bugs, will also help with yellowing on th tomatoes, as they are heavy users of calcium

 

[Dune]

Bug juice: collect some of the afflicting bugs.
Blend (in blender)
Add water, blend again
Pour Bug Juice in sprayer bottle
Spray on afflicted plants.
Works with any type of garden bug.

 

[begreen]

And it makes a dandy cocktail too. Just add rum and a sprig of mint!

 

[Jags]

And it makes a dandy cocktail too. Just add rum and a sprig of mint!

Mmmmm...Japanese beetle Mojito.

 

[fossil]

Back in the day (1960's - 1970's), when we put to sea on a Navy ship, we'd have nice fresh milk for oh...maybe 6 days or so, if we were lucky. After that, it was all "Bug Juice" (military issue Kool-Aid) until we got replenished or pulled into a port someplace. I'm sure that if it didn't kill a bug outright, it would convince the bug to relocate his family. Rick

 

[Jags]

You didn't have the box-o-milk stuff back then. Ahhh...probably not, I don't think the box had been invented yet.

***Ducks and runs***

 

[btuser]

Works with any type of garden bug.

Does it work with vertebrates?

I'm going to need a bigger blender.

 

[fossil]

You didn't have the box-o-milk stuff back then. Ahhh...probably not, I don't think the box had been invented yet.

Oh yeah, we had that stuff. After the fresh milk was gone and the Bug Juice came out, there were always the little cartons of "milk" with straws attached. I dunno...anything labeled as milk that says there's no need for refrigeration never really earned my confidence.

 

[Jags]

It was a bit scary at first, but it never did kill me (yet).

Heck - I would bet that stuff would work as pesticide.

 

[katwillny]

And it makes a dandy cocktail too. Just add rum and a sprig of mint!

Bugito instead of Mojito. sounds like a cuban drink. lol.