Our post yesterday about vegetable gardens and organic produce has raised some great questions. One of our favorites was "How do I keep insects away but still maintain the organic integrity of my veggies?" Here are three pretty fail-proof options to use in your existing gardens to keep those pests away. The majority of us already have the ingredients for all of these so they are pretty budget friendly too!
Oil Spray-...
This organic pesticide works best for those sap-sucking insects like aphids, spider mites, and white flies.
You Need:
1 tablespoon dish soap
1 cup cooking oil (from a newly opened bottle, not the leftovers from last night's fish fry ;))
Mix 4 teaspoons of oil solution with 1 pint of water.
Until ready to use, store in a glass jar in a dry, dark, and cool location.
Apply a liberal amount to vegetables once every 7 days to keep pests away.
Baby Shampoo-
Use this solution, too, to keep aphids, white flies, scale, thrips, and spider mites at bay. It is also safe for both indoor and outdoor plants. Note: this mixture should not be used in sun or on plants with hairy leaves or wax-like coating like squash.
You Need:
Mix 2 tablespoons of baby shampoo with 1 gallon of water
Apply generously and allow to stay on plants for several hours before rinsing with the water hose.
Red Pepper Spray-
Just like red pepper can add spice to your favorite dinner recipe, it can help add the perfect spice to keep those annoying insects from eating your favorite veggies. Use this for leafhoppers, spittlebugs, beetles, and loopers.
You Need:
1 tablespoon red pepper
6 drops dish soap
1 gallon of water
Mix well. Pour into garden sprayer and thoroughly cover your veggies. Reapply once a week, as needed, to keep bugs away.
These are our three favorites. Do you have your own favorite organic pesticide or maybe some that haven't been so successful? Feel free to share your experiences and expertise!
1 tablespoon dish soap
1 cup cooking oil (from a newly opened bottle, not the leftovers from last night's fish fry ;))
Mix 4 teaspoons of oil solution with 1 pint of water.
Until ready to use, store in a glass jar in a dry, dark, and cool location.
Apply a liberal amount to vegetables once every 7 days to keep pests away.
Baby Shampoo-Use this solution, too, to keep aphids, white flies, scale, thrips, and spider mites at bay. It is also safe for both indoor and outdoor plants. Note: this mixture should not be used in sun or on plants with hairy leaves or wax-like coating like squash.
You Need:
Mix 2 tablespoons of baby shampoo with 1 gallon of water
Apply generously and allow to stay on plants for several hours before rinsing with the water hose.
Red Pepper Spray-
Just like red pepper can add spice to your favorite dinner recipe, it can help add the perfect spice to keep those annoying insects from eating your favorite veggies. Use this for leafhoppers, spittlebugs, beetles, and loopers.
You Need:1 tablespoon red pepper
6 drops dish soap
1 gallon of water
Mix well. Pour into garden sprayer and thoroughly cover your veggies. Reapply once a week, as needed, to keep bugs away.
These are our three favorites. Do you have your own favorite organic pesticide or maybe some that haven't been so successful? Feel free to share your experiences and expertise!
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