10 Homemade Pesticides to eliminate pests in the garden or orchard
Often our gardens and orchards are affected by aphids, ants, slugs or mites. Often the easy recourse is to buy a pesticide to save the harvest, or if we want to have totally organic food the harvest may be reduced or lost.
Pesticides found in many shops are chemicals used in agriculture to protect crops against insects, fungi, weeds and other pests. According to the WHO, pesticides are also potentially toxic to humans. They can have adverse health effects, such as cancer, reproductive, immune or nervous system consequences. Before pesticides are authorized for use, they must be studied to determine all possible health effects.
Long before chemical pesticides were invented, farmers had home remedies to get rid of insect invasions of plants. These natural alternatives to chemical pesticides can be easily made at home and can save our garden harvest.
Garlic
Garlic is a powerful insect repellent, capable of repelling insects. To prepare this spray you must crush in a blender a head of garlic with some cloves (species), along with two glasses of water until you get a homogeneous mixture. Let this mixture stand for a whole day and then add 3 liters of water. It can be applied by steaming the leaves of the plants directly.
Tomato
Tomato leaves are rich in alkaloids, an excellent repellent for aphids, worms and caterpillars. Fill two cups with chopped tomato leaves and add water. Let it sit at least overnight and dilute the mixture in two cups of water. It is important to keep it away from pets because it can be toxic to them.
Eggshell
Eggshells can be a good fertilizer for the soil and also a repellent for snails and some caterpillars. Crush the shells and sprinkle the powder at the base of the plants.
Coriander
Coriander is a great remedy to kill mites. You should boil this plant with water for about 10 minutes, strain the mixture and pour it in the garden with the help of a spray.
Vegetable oil
To kill aphids, mealy bugs, mites or caterpillars a good solution is to mix 2 cups of vegetable oil with half a cup of pure liquid soap, shake until it is a white mixture, dilute it in water and spray it with a spray. It is preferable to use it in the morning or in the evening when the sun is not strong because at more than 30 degrees Celsius it can damage the plant.
Marigold or basil
Planting marigold or basil around plants is a great solution for repelling whiteflies.
Cow's milk
To kill the insect eggs, mix half a cup of fresh, unpasteurized milk with 4 cups of flour and 20 liters of water.
Nettle
Nettle, besides being an annoying plant that causes irritation if you touch it, is an excellent pesticide for aphids and fertilizer for the soil. Mix 100 grams of nettle with 10 litres of water, let it sit for 4 days and it's ready to use.
Tobacco
With natural tobacco we can fight the annoying plague of red spider mite. Mix 60 grams of tobacco with 1 litre of water and 10 grams of natural soap. Spread the mixture every 7 days for two months.
Lavender
Lavender is a great solution to repel ants. Make an infusion with 300 grams of fresh lavender leaves with 1 liter of water. Let it cool and spray on the attacked plants.
