How do I keep bugs away from my veggie garden?!!?

Question

I don't want any harsh chemicals- I'm trying to use common household items, like ground red pepper to keep catapillars away. Something keeps eating the leaves off most my plants, and it's driving me nuts!!! How do I repel those bastards!

Answer 1

you can mix lemon scented dish soap, lemon scented ammonia and a little water. put this in a pump sprayer and spray your plants. this is very safe and it will not hurt your plants at all. actually plants need a certain amount of ammonia in their diet.

i use this method and it really works. i got it from the garden guy on pbs.

Answer 2

Oh, the question! The first thing to say is that if you want to grow naturally you need to get used to a few holes in some leaves.

Now, eating leaves off is a problem... Probably caterpillers. Neem oil could help. Sometimes yes sometimes no. Often becuase of their life cycle hand picking is the best solution, but you cannot pick what you cannot see.

Here is what I suggest you try... Parasitic wasps... If your garden is small you can buy them and release them. They won't sting you.

There are also other organic pesticides including my favriote Pyganic, but I think the smallest bottle you can buy (which does 2 acres) is $150...


This site may help.
http://www.homestead.com/ipmofalaska/files/caterpillars.html

Answer 3

Probably some type of worm. Spray with BT. It is a organic stinking mess but really effective. The correct name is about two and a half blocks long but the garden shops will just call it BT.

Answer 4

I was reading that Neem is approved or organic gardens for the control of Japanese Beetles.

Answer 5

Get ladybugs and put them in your garden. And add other harmless insects that eat the bastards.

Answer 6

use wicked bamboo voodoo smoking magic crazy dancing spells.

Answer 7

Baking soda and lavender.