Image from no-dig-vegetablegarden.com
I knew this week was going to bring more ‘excitement’ 🙂
This morning I went to look at my POSH FARM and I was more depressed and confused than ever. I’m confused because some of the things have grown so much that they are stifling the others; and I’m depressed because insects have begun to eat at some of the leaves and I’m not sure of what to do. It’s not a lot but I need to stop it before it becomes uncontrollable.
Confused! 😮
I now need to actually transplant some of the things. Even as a novice I can see that the size of some things will create problems for others. This means that I will need to spend a day working on the ‘farm’. Ideally I would like to do that tomorrow as Saturday mornings are becoming my ‘farming’ time. However, I will be going out-of-town tomorrow and I’m not sure when I am going to find the time to do the transplanting. I can’t wait too long though or that may be even more trouble.
Cantaloupe leaves up close
Invasion of the Insects! 😦
I do not want to use chemical based pesticides so I’m trying to find a safe way to do this. A quick internet search turned up a host of responses but I think I like these ones best. I found the suggestions on eartheasy.com and globalhealingcentre.com. These are non-toxic homemade remedies and my favourite so far are these two – maybe because I already have the ingredients in the house.
The key tool here is seems to be the spray bottle. Note as well that whichever pesticide you choose, each recommendation warns that it is important to test the mix by spraying it onto a small portion of a plant. This allows you to make sure that the mix will not cause more harm than good. If the section of the plant tested, wilts or changes color, try using a different type of pesticide.
Spray bottle
- Using Oil: Combine one tablespoon of cooking oil (canola oil), two tablespoons of baking soda and a few drops of mild soap (avoid anti-bacterial, scented, and other specialized soaps, since these may damage your plants) into a quart of water. Shake well and pour into a spray bottle. Test the mix by spraying it onto a small portion of your plant. This allows you to make sure that the mix will not cause more harm than good. If the section of the plant you test the spray on wilts or changes color, try using a different soap for this pesticide or another type of pesticide. Spray plant from above down, and from below up to get the underside of the leaves. Shake container frequently during operation. Repeat every 2-3 days over two weeks or until the problem disappears.
- Using Vegetables: Using a blender or food processor, mince one organic clove of garlic and one medium sized organic onion. Add to a quart of water. Wait one hour and then add one teaspoon of cayenne or hot pepper to the mix. Let it stand for 24 hours in a warm well lit area. Shake well and pour into a spray bottle. Spray plants and shake container frequently during operation. This organic spray is said to hold its potency for one week if stored in the refrigerator.
Other options I found include:
- Mineral oil: Mix 10-30 ml of high-grade oil with one liter of water. Stir and add to spray bottle. This organic pesticide works well for dehydrating insects and their eggs.
- Citrus Oil and/or Cayenne Pepper Mix: This is said to work well on ants. Mix 10 drops of citrus essential oil (or dried citrus peel) with one teaspoon cayenne pepper and 1 cup of warm water. Shake well and spray in the affected areas.
- Soap, Orange Citrus Oil & Water: Mix 3 tablespoons of liquid Organic Castile soap with 1 ounce of Orange oil to one gallon of water. Shake well. This has been said to be especially effective treatment against slugs and can be sprayed directly on ants and roaches.
- Eucalyptus oil: This is said to be a great natural treatment for flies, bees and wasps. Sprinkle a few drops of eucalyptus oil where the insects are found. They will all be gone before you know it.
- Chrysanthemum Flower Tea: These flowers hold a powerful plant chemical component called pyrethrum. This substance invades the nervous system of insects rendering them immobile. You can make your own spray by boiling 100 grams of dried flowers into 1 liter of water. Boil dried flowers in water for twenty minutes. Strain, cool and place in a spray bottle. Can be stored for up to two months. You can also add some organic neem oil to enhance the effectiveness.
Well, I will let you know how this works out over the next few weeks. In the meantime……Happy Posh Farming!
Posh Farming 