OT - natural homemade pesticide

cookworm · 06-01-2007, 10:00 PM

I have a basil plant outside that is getting eaten alive by insects!

Is there was something I could make at home (to be sure that it was completely safe to use on the leaves) since we're going to be eating those very leaves? I didn't have any luck finding anything via search engines. I haven't caught any bugs "in the act" on the plant, so I'm not sure what I would need to repel.

nuknitter · 06-02-2007, 03:07 AM

Hi cookworm! You're right, I think you have to ID the little pests first, but here's some links to get you started (at least some of these preparations have nothing that YOU can't eat too):

http://ipmofalaska.homestead.com/fil...stcontrol.html
http://www.cdcg.org/pests.html
http://mygreendream.wordpress.com/organic-pest-control/
http://eartheasy.com/grow_nat_pest_cntrl.htm#c

I particularly like the garlic/red pepper preps - I'd eat those outta the spray bottle myself!

Hope these help!

Silver · 06-02-2007, 03:08 AM

Check this out.

HTH!

Susan P. · 06-02-2007, 03:10 AM

You can try..as another suggested...garlic and/or chili sprays :-) At least eatable :-)

cookworm · 06-02-2007, 03:12 AM

Yay!!! These are just what I was looking for!!!

Thank you!!!

I sprinkled some cayenne pepper at the base of my plant because my little chipmunk friend decided that he was going to sit right in the pot it's in, and shovel the tender young basil plants right into his mouth with his two front paws! I couldn't believe how bold he is! So I haven't seen him messing around my plants on my deck, but boy, that basil plant is taking a beating. I'm going to check these out and try something...I wish I knew what kind of bugs were eating them!

Susan P. · 06-02-2007, 03:19 AM

To stop the chipmunk you can also wrap fine chicken wire around the plant. Support it with some lengths of dowel or similar so the little beast don't just press it down onto the plant :-)

cookworm · 06-02-2007, 03:23 AM

Originally Posted by Susan P.

To stop the chipmunk you can also wrap fine chicken wire around the plant. Support it with some lengths of dowel or similar so the little beast don't just press it down onto the plant :-)

This is really my fault...I encouraged him.

This is the first place we've lived that has had "wildlife", and it's been really nice to see squirrels that come up and feed so close to our back door, birds, and even those chipmunks, so I was feeding everybody. Now that I planted some herbs and a tomato plant on my deck, it's only natural that he would think it's a convenient supermarket to get some fresh greens in his diet too. I don't want to be mean to him, but geez, he's a greedy little guy, with an insatiable appetite! I'll try your suggestion--thank you!

feministmama · 06-02-2007, 03:36 AM

How about bigger bugs? Like praying mantas? You can get them at your local garden store. Also lady bugs eat other things. Then there's another bug I forget what its called but get this: It tunnels into the butthole (can I say that here?

) of other bugs and eats them from the inside out!

feministmama · 06-02-2007, 03:38 AM

Oh yeah then there's diataceous (sp?) earth. It's this dirt that is really sharp to small bugs. when they crawl on it, it cuts them open and they kinda bleed to death. For slugs we set out a saucer of beer. THey love it. THey climb in an drown. Ours prefer Bud.

Susan P. · 06-02-2007, 03:48 AM

Trouble is some of those larger bugs also like basil and veges too! :-)
That eat inside out bug sounds almost like a sci-fi horror movie. You've given a screen writer an idea for a Movie3! :-)

If I was you with a few plants cookworm and wanting to protect, I would consider a larger tub..you know..one of those rectangular ones that you can get fairly cheaply in polystyrene..and put then in that and then develop a wire 'cage' to put around it. That way you have one element only to life off if you want to access your plants.

You can also..if you want a creative, nutty look..use old birdcages for this sort of thing too although obviously they are not going to take plants climbing up high..:-)

I think your chipmunk would have come down eventually anyway tho mainly at dusk or early morning if it wasn't used to you.

I tell you..I HATE going to outdoor places where while you're eating you get harassed by pushy pigeons..flying rats! :-)