We have two problems in our garden?

Question

we have something eating our squash plants, and I think mites on our brussell sprouts--any natural help???

Answer 1

Blast plants with a strong spray of water. Then use a soap & water spray. Start out with this weaker formula first: 1 oz. mild Dishwashing soap or baby shampoo to 1 gallon of water. You can add a tbsp of cooking oil when plants are dormant & when its cooler. (Don't use in the heat of the day to prevent plant stress & burning).

For most insects: Mix 2 tbsp vegetable oil, and 2 tbsp baby shampoo ( or mild dish soap) in 1 gallon of water & spray.

The caustic properties of sour milk kills insect eggs when poured on cabbage heads, so It should work on brussell sprouts. This worked for me!

You can wipe out broccoli worms by sprinkling white flour on your broccoli when you see signs of their activity (chewed leaves). Apply the flour when the plant is wet, so when they crawl up on the leaves they will get coated with the flour, suffocate & fall off.

Rubbing alcohol, vegetable oils, and soaps will either suffocate or dessicate the mites. When attacking the problem, remember that even the "safest" organic solutions should not be used in full sun or high temperatures because that's when they can burn or stress plants.

There are also Horticultural oils & Insecticidal soaps to kill mites. "Derived from organic soaps like Castile soap, insecticidal soaps kill mites and other plant pests by compromising their cellular integrity, causing cells to rupture and die. The usual recipe is about 2-3 drops of castile soap for every quart of water."

Some people use a 1:3 mixture of rubbing alcohol to water, mixture, to get rid of Red Spider mites.This can be used on the area around plants.

Murphy's Oil Soap spray for Spider mites
1/3 cup Murphy's Oil Soap
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 gallon water.

Neem oil, a very safe product made from the seeds of a tropical tree .

Strong coffee poured directly on slugs kills them. Also, spread coffee grounds & coffee around the base of the plant.

Sprinkle Chile Pepper on plants & around them. Snails & slugs won't cross materials containing it.

Dry, dusty or sharp material can be a barrier to snails, such as hydrated lime, wood ash, sharp sand, crushed egg shells, or diatamaceous earth.

Garlic spray is great for getting rid of slugs, cutworms, wireworms, & whiteflies. Blend well 1garlic bulb & 1 onion add 1Tbsp cayenne pepper & 1 quart water. Steep ingredients for 1 hr, then strain & add 1 Tbsp dish soap and your non-toxic spray is ready to use against slugs, snails & other insects.

Answer 2

Also might try a mixture of hot sauce and water in a spray bottle. Or water the plant down and sprinkle cumin. Most pest don't like the taste. Check you squash at dusk, you might be able to catch the little munchers and pull them off by hand. I would use a bucket of water to throw them in to drown them. search on the web for mites and see what kind of natural predator will eat them, maybe you could order them-like ladybugs or prying mantis- to put in your yard. Also certain companion plants are good in a garden: like marigolds or chives, some of the nastier bugs either stay away because they don't like the smell of these plants or are drawn to them instead. Go to the library and see if they have any books on these type of issues.

Answer 3

Take the vet up on the offer to neuter the strays! They will back off each other, you, the garden, and your girls once they are fixed, and your girl won't feel like she has to stake out her territory anymore. Besides, I don't know how common it is, but un-neutered males have tried to mate with my brother's spayed cat many times. It terrifies her because she thinks they are fighting her, and could result in her getting injured or maybe catching some disease that there are no vaccines for yet. =(

Answer 4

A friend of mine recommended using fireplace ashes and shaking them over the plants to keep bugs from eating the plants.

Answer 5

Wood ashes sprinkled on the plants help alot !

Answer 6

Not natural but completely safe............. Try sprinkling baby powder on your plants. Whatever is munching on them will not like the taste. Completely safe to the plant ,environment, and to you.

Answer 7

sure... get some lady bugs from your local florest...and a few preying mantises.. that'l solve your problem...