pest control/caterpillas/on edible plants?

Answer 1

Last year I had success with making a natural garlic and pepper spray to rid plants of pests. I ground up a whole garlic bulb, and several hot peppers. fresh, dried, or even jarred. Just don't use much if any of the vinegar if using jarred peppers. I also usually added a few drops of rosemary oil. Then about a teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Strain the mixture, so it's all liquid. Put in a one gallon sprayer and fill with water. Spray your plants liberally. That should run them off. If your plants are out in the elements, this will help for a bout a week or until heavy rain. Reapply as necessary and make sure you also get the undersides of the leaves.

Answer 2

If you buy ANY chemicals, read the labels carefully. Pesticides can be absorbed into the plants. There is usually a minimum harvest time after use. Follow ALL the directions carefully. Make sure the plant you are treating is on the label.

I don't know about the garlic and pepper solutions in the other answers. I do know about chemicals. I was an exterminator for over 6 years. Not following the directions can make you or your family sick or kill you.

Answer 3

I usually try to plant more than I need so they can have some too. This is particularly true of some herbs like dill and parsley which are host plants for butterfly larvae (caterpillars).
My garden used to be visited by lots of beautiful black swallowtail butterflies. About the same time I had these nasty green, yellow and black caterpillars all over my herbs. I would pick them off and dispose of them. Luckily about that time a local garden center had a big open house with all kinds of experts. I took one of my caterpillars and was shocked and dismayed that it indeed was the larval stage of my beautiful swallowtail butterflies!
Ever since I try to plant more than I need so the wild things can have some too and are encouraged to come and visit my garden.
The garlic spray works well if you want to discourage them and not kill them.

Answer 4

Use soapy water every time you do or your wife dose the dishes put the water in your watering can and spray it over your vegetables. I costs nothing and is environmentally friendly its a tryed and tested method.
Butterfly's taste with their feet so as soon as they land they taste the soap and fly away, if they do lay their eggs which is highly unlikely they will roll off because of the soap on the leaves, they won't stick. Fly's will lay their eggs on your plants but because of the soap on the leaves they just roll off the plants.

Answer 5

If your wanting something natural try sprinkling flour on your plant. This seems to make them go away. I do this when I plant a garden so I dont lose my plants when caterpillars are visible. Good luck.

Answer 6

i use a spray i make which is 100% safe and does not affect the taste at all

u peel some fresh garlic cloves and put them into a spray bottle of water, let them sit for a few days, then use the spray and i guarentee you , there will be no pests!

Answer 7

as long as you have good sunlight and are waiting to handle the vegetation desires on a similar time as transforming into, you could advance exceptionally lots any veggie you prefer to...had a shopper that had a exceptionally spectacular watermelon "patch" transforming into on a balcony.

Answer 8

Caterpillars are butterflies! Just plant enough to share, or don't use plants that butterflies enjoy.

Answer 9

i pick em off!
it's dead relaxing, especially if you have a nice beer cooler by your side and it's sunny out.