How To Control Insects In A Vegetable Garden

Insecticidal sprays you can make at home can be useful for controlling insects in the vegetable garden. That being said, sprays that kill harmful insects can also kill beneficial insects. Use these homemade remedies selectively, only spraying the infected plants. To avoid spraying beneficial insects, apply them early in the very morning or just before dark. Re-apply after a rain.

Here's a few simple homemade insects control formulas:

Soft-bodied Insects (mites, aphids, mealybugs): Mix one tablespoon canola oil and a few drops of Ivory soap into a quart of water. Shake well and pour into a spray bottle. Spray plant from above down, and from below up to get the underside of the leaves. The oil smothers the insects.

Mites & Other Insects: Mix two tablespoons of hot pepper sauce or cayenne pepper with a few drops of Ivory soap into a quart of water. Let stand overnight, then stir and pour into a spray bottle and apply as above. Shake container frequently during application.

Insects and Fungal Diseases: Combine one tablespoon of cooking oil, two tablespoons of baking soda and a few drops of Ivory soap into a quart of water. Pour into a spray container and apply as above.

Potato Starch Spray: Mix two to four tablespoons of potato flour in one quart of water. Add two to three drops of non-detergent liquid soap. This will also protect the plants from insect that feed on liquid, also called sucking insects, in the plants.

Rodale's All-purpose Spray: Chop and grind one garlic bulb and one small onion. Add one teaspoon of powdered cayenne pepper and mix with one quart of water. Let steep for one hour and strain through cheesecloth. Next add one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap to the strained liquid. Mix well and spray plants thoroughly. This kills the sucking insects.

Garlic Spray: Blend 1/4-pound of strong garlic for five to 10 minutes with a quart of water and one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth and collect the liquid. Next dilute the solution with one part per 10 parts water before spraying. This solution will last about one month if refrigerated. It will repel ants, mole crickets and sucking insects.

Hot Dust: Grind dried homegrown red or chili peppers or dill weed (including seeds) to dust. Sprinkle along seeded rows of vegetables to repel ants. Store-bought black pepper, chili pepper, dill, ginger, paprika and red pepper all contain capsaicin, which repels ants. When using red peppers or chili peppers take care not to get the dust in your eyes or on your hands!

Insecticidal Soaps and Sprays: These remedies, such as insecticidal soap a or neem oil, work to safely repel many insects. To avoid spraying beneficial insects, apply them early in the very morning or just before dark. Read and follow instructions on label.

Milky Spore: For lawn or garden grubs, there is a natural remedy called milky spore. The granules are spread on the soil and cause the grubs to contract a disease that kills them. This natural control affects only the grubs, leaving the beneficial organisms unharmed. Milky spore multiplies over time and will sit inactive, waiting for grubs to infect. One treatment is said to last 40 years. The grubs in your garden soil are actually the larvae of Japanese beetles. So, when you kill the grubs you kill the beetle.

Diatomateuos Earth: To control earwigs, slugs and other soft-bodied insects, sprinkle diatomaceuos earth over plants and around edges of garden beds. The diatoms particles are very small and sharp - but only harmful to the small exoskeletons of insects, slugs and snails. Insects cannot become immune to its action, as it is a mechanical killer - not a chemical one.

Yellow Flypaper: Old-fashioned fly-paper is very effective in the garden for aphids and whiteflies.

Pheremones: Great for Japanese beetles! These biological mating scents attract insects to a trap which is coated with a sticky substance. Pheremone traps are effective, but remember they are "attracting" the insects - be sure to position them on your garden perimeter or you'll attract outside pests into your garden!

Floating Row Covers: Floating row covers consist of lightweight opaque material which is draped over the garden bed. Sunlight and water go through, but insects and birds are kept out. The material is so light that the growing plants simply push it up as they grow - like Jiffy Pop popcorn. The edges of the row cover need to be anchored with rocks or boards or the wind will lift it. The material is "spun" which resists tearing, but usually begins to break down after a few years. Row cover material comes in rolls so you can make a continuous cover no matter how long the garden bed. Row covers are great for protecting seedlings. They are even more useful throughout the growing season when placed over vegetables such as carrots, beets, broccoli, swiss chard and spinach because it makes an effective barrier against flying insects looking for these plants to lay their eggs on.

Barrier Paper: Scraps of waxed cardboard from milk cartons, or a scrap of roofing felt are a simple yet effective defense against cabbage moths. Cabbage moth larva kill young sprouts of broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, kale and cauliflower. Cut the waxed cardboard or roofing felt into 2" squares and slit one side into the center; make another small slit crossways. Open the slit and slide the square so the seedling stem is in the center. This prevents the cabbage moth from laying eggs at the base of the sprouts. Leave in place and as the plant grows it will simply push the slit open wider. Be sure to apply as soon as the sprout appears, or the moth will beat you to it!

Deer are insects put they are major pests of unprotected vegetable gardens. The average deer eats about 5 pounds of greenery each day. Creatures of habit, they revisit the same forage areas often. The following non-toxic recipes will deter the deer, but may need to be re-applied after a heavy rain.

For larger volume applications, mix the following ingredients:

1 cup milk

2 gallons water

2 whole eggs

2 Tbsp cooking oil

2 Tbsp liquid detergent

Pour the mixture into a pump bottle and spray it on your plants.

Nontoxic natural deer repellents are commercially available, using variations of the above formulas.