Safe insect spray for veggies

16 years ago

After reading a few of the posts on this forum, I thought I would post what I used last year ro defeat a major problem with aphids and other insects.

3 whole red savina habaneropeppers

2 cloves garlic

1/4 small white onion

1/4 cup neem oil

1 quart water

All into a blender she went for 1 minute on puree and liquify.

Strained through a colander (fine holes) then through a coffee filter, took an hour.

I used this as a spray both by itself, and later with a water powered sprayer and eliminated my problems.

This year I will be planting beneficial attractor plants to hopefully keep my lady bugs more active within my garden.

Thanks TiMo

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Comments (6)

rootdoctor
Original Author
16 years ago
Sorry, mind was wandering and I was thinking about another spray. OOPS! Neem oil, only 1 Tablespoon.
joytosew
16 years ago
Can you use this on new plants?
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rootdoctor
Original Author
16 years ago
I only used it on established plants, collards, mustards, turnips, tomatoes, and other pepper plants. After spring had set in, we went through a longer dry spell with no wind than normal. The plants got seriously infested with small green caterpillers, and aphids and in some cases, spider mites. Three treatments with this knocked em the heck out. Then the rains came back, windier too. The plants were just past the seedling stage, so they were if I remember6-10" in heighth, atleast the brassicas were. In a weaker solution and hand sprayed I think it wouldn't harm the plants tho. Good luck TiMo
lorna-organic
16 years ago
Companion planting can do much to deter insect problems. I imagine your recipe did a good job on those spider mites. I certainly had a hard time getting rid of those. I think planting a lot of marigolds and chrysanthemums ultimately caused the mites in my garden to go away.

Radish and nasturtiums are supposed to be good for keeping borer type insects out of the vegetable plot. I planted Santolina bushes in my strawberry bed. Haven't had a beetle infestation since.

I use simple dish soap (not antibacterial soap) to get rid of any serious infestation of aphids. I make up a bucket of soapy water and douse plants, making sure to get the undersides of the leaves. I prefer the bucket method instead of spraying, because it is a very direct attack on the problem. I don't want to kill off any of the beneficial insects I have in my garden, which are green lace wings, ladybugs and preying mantis. Spiders are beneficial in the garden because they eat insects. Some types of wasps can be helpful, such as umbrella wasps.

A bird feeder in the vicinity of caterpillar problems would draw birds to notice and feed on the caterpillars. I use large, deep plant saucers of birdseed, which I place on the ground. I don't fill the saucers very full so the birds aren't likely to scatter the seed outside of the saucers.
Kimmsr
16 years ago
Since it is very easy to wash aphids off plants with a sharp stream of water I doubt that you need to mix all that together into a general spray. As a part of a total Integrated Pest Management program that spray might, possibly, have some use, but since someone (and all organic gardeners should) practicing IPM will use more pest specific sprays, only when necessary, this would be too general for use.
rootdoctor
Original Author
16 years ago
I agree with you kimmsr, but was going to be too tied up for a while and wanted to knock the problem out fast. I had not done any companion planting yet, but will this year. Lorna- I do notice that the sparrows get into the garden later in the summer and feast off of the insects - every day. I will be planting dill this year to keep ladybugs present and putting mantis egg sacks in as well. TiMo