Organic Control

The words Organic and control together, makes you think of greenies who chain themselves to bulldozers, right? Well lets erase that thought and think about it this way. You have a lovely garden. You have a few weeds, you have some insects and perhaps some fungus too. What do you do? Spray them with nasty chemicals? Why? Aside from the harm it can do to you, your family, animals or the environment, there is not one universal pesticide for all pests. So you would have to add a polethra of chemicals onto your gardens, not really knowing or understand what these chemicals are doing. Unless you’re a trained chemist, maybe go the biological route instead. I have come up with an array of different remedies and DIY organic sprays you can make at home. There are lots of great and reputable organic pesticide websites out there. The following are in no particular order. I will be revising and updating this on aregular basis. If you have any additions, please comment below.

PESTICIDES

  • Fungal Spray

3.5 L Water
0.5 teaspoon (mild) liquid soap
1 tablespoon baking soda

NB. This needs to be used straight away as it cannot keep.

Don’t spray in the heat of the day and make sure the plants have been watered a few days before application.

  • White oil

Traditionally used against: aphids, small caterpillars, leaf miners, mealy bugs, mites and scale.

  • 500 mL Vegetable oil
  • 100mL dishwashing detergent (organic would be best)

Mix the two liquids in a large far or bottle with a tightly secured lid. Before each use, shake vigorously. Keep it in a cool area. Use: 1 tablespoon to 1L water.

Garlic

Two ways to use this miracle vege. One, Add crushed garlic to 2.5 cups of water and spray directly on pests The other, is to add it to the white oil recipe (described above). Just be wary that this mixture does not last forever.

  • Chili
  • 125 mL BURNING hot Chili
  • 480 mL water
  • 29 mL dish soap (organic/natural is best)

Puree chili; add water; leave to sit overnight. Strain this mixture (Be careful – it could burn!) and mix in soap and wa-la- a potent home made, ready to use pesticide!

HERBICIDES

There are simple ways to make your own weed spray which will be better than using glysophate which is a very harsh chemical for the environment AND for humans and animals. It should have been banned twenty years ago. There are many variations to DIY weed spray. Depending on area of the weeds – you can use salt, however, you don’t want to use too much salt, because that can lead to salinity issues and mucking up water tables. However, if you have pesky weeds in your paths, then douse away with salt; boiling water or vinegar.

There is a combination weed spray which is very useful.

1 cup Vinegar
1 cup salt
1-2 tablespoons of dish soap

Make sure salt is dissolved. And then spray.

FERTILIZERS

Weed Tea

You read right. Weeds have wonderful nutrients for your plants. You won’t be able to use all your weeds. Oxalis is one example of what not to use. But grass and the general flat weeds you see around your garden. Thistles are also good. You will need:

  • A strong bucket
  • Water
  • Weeds
  • Tea towel

Dig out your weeds and cut them up finely onto te-towel. Tie it up and place it into the bucket. Pour in enough water to just cover the bundle. Place in an area in your garden, under cover, preferably. In a weeks time, remove the parcel and you are left with green natural fertilizer. Use in a watering can and add to your vegetables.

DIY GARDEN PRODUCTS/GARDEN CRAFTS

There are different crafts you can do with your kids to deter pests.

White cabbage moth

Make some plastic butterflies and tie them on stakes over your brassicas which will ward off the moth. Apparently they will see the ‘butterflies’ and go elsewhere.

PLANTS TO ATTRACT BENEFICIAL INSECTS TO YOUR GARDEN.

For white Cabbage moth: Plant land cress close to any brassicas in your garden. The cabbage moth will lay their eggs on these and will use the cress as their food source instead of your vegetables.

For aphids, plant lady bugs attracting plants. Lady bugs eat aphids. Examples of plant to sow are the following:

  • Calendula
  • Chives
  • Coriander
  • Marigold
  • Dill
  • Fennel

For more information on aphids, please check out my new bog post: https://gardenerdsking.com/2020/09/04/aphids-a-gardeners-nightmare/