Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Some pesticides

I've found three recipes that seems to be good (I've only needed to use one of them). The source is "Handbok för köksträdgården" ("Kitchengarden Handbook") by Lena Israelsson, and since these are reliable housewife knowledge I've decided to pass them on.

Soap water
1/2 dl soft soap (1/2 cup)
1 l water (10 cups)

The soft soap in question is soap made from pine oil - still a very popular all purpose cleaning agent in Sweden. Disolve the soft soap in the water and spray the solution on the plant. Spray all of it, including the undersides of the leaves, untill the liquid drips from it.

Use against: aphids, thrips, powdery mildew, soft skin larvae and other insekts.

Baking soda spray

2 tbsp baking soda (ie sodium bicarbonate)
2 tbsp soft soap
2 l water

Disolve baking soda and soft soap in the water. Spray on plant as described above.

Use against: powdery mildew

Chili spray

1 fresh and very HOT chili fruit
2 tbsp soft soap
1 l water

Cut and crush the chili fruit finely. NOTE: do use protective gloves while you do this! Mix the chili mash and the soap into the water. Spray on plant as described above.

Use against: all sorts of insects.

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