Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Homemade Organic Pesticide for Vegetables
Homemade Organic Pesticide for Vegetables. Having a vegetable garden often means dealing with garden pests that appear and feed on the leaves and stems of plants. Gardeners have a variety of products available to combat these pests, but some of these contain chemicals that are toxic to wildlife and the environment. You may prefer organic products...
Having a vegetable garden often means dealing with garden pests that appear and feed on the leaves and stems of plants. Gardeners have a variety of products available to combat these pests, but some of these contain chemicals that are toxic to wildlife and the environment. You may prefer organic products that do not have these detrimental effects. Some of these homemade organic pesticides can be made with ingredients you may already have at home. Gardeners can choose from many recipes for homemade organic pesticides.
Things You'll Need
Garlic cloves
Water
Cheesecloth
Spray bottle
Rubbing alcohol
Orange peels
Castile soap
2 cups cayenne peppers
1-inch piece of horseradish root
1 pound of rhubarb leaves
2 cups tomato leaves
Protective glasses
Garlic Pesticide
Puree 15 garlic cloves and 1 pint of water in a food processor or blender.
Strain the mixture through cheesecloth into a clean spray bottle.
Spray the tops and undersides of all leaves.
Repeat every few days until the pests are gone.
Rubbing Alcohol Pesticide
Mix ? cup rubbing alcohol with 1 quart of liquid soap directly into a spray bottle.
Spray on vegetable plant leaves. Allow to sit for 20 minutes.
Spray plants with clear water to minimize foliage damage.
Spray every three days for two weeks.
Orange Peel Pesticide
Pour boiling water over orange peels.
Allow it to steep for 24 hours.
Remove the peels and strain the mixture.
Mix in a few drops of castile soap.
Spray on plants as needed.
Horseradish Pesticide
Boil 2 quarts of water.
Add 2 cups of cayenne peppers and a 1-inch piece of horseradish root.
Allow mixture to steep for one hour. Let cool.
Strain mixture. Pour into spray bottle.
Spray on plants to eliminate aphids, beetles, caterpillars and whiteflies.
Rhubarb Pesticide
Boil 1 lb. of rhubarb leaves in a few pints of water for 20 minutes. Allow it to cool.
Strain into a container.
Add a small amount of dish detergent to allow the mixture to adhere to vegetable plants.
Spray on plants to kill aphids and spider mites.
Tomato Leaf Pesticide
Soak 2 cups of tomato leaves in water overnight.
Strain the mixture and add 1 pint of fresh water and ? tsp. of liquid soap.
Spray foliage and soil to control asparagus beetles, flea beetles and earworms.
Tips & Warnings
According to the Fraser Info website, alcohol sprays work on aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, thrips and whiteflies.
Rubbing alcohol can be caustic to the eyes. Wear protective glasses when spraying plants.
According to Colorado State University, dry dish soaps and all clothes-washing detergents are too harsh to be used on plants and should not be used as organic pesticides on vegetables or other plants.
The Canadian Broadcasting Company warns gardeners to not ingest rhubarb spray, which contains high amounts of oxalic acid and can have serious effects on the heart.
