pest solutions
Posted on 01. May, 2010 by nicole in op-ed
words > CRAIG AINSWORTH
April showers bring Mayflowers, but what do the Mayflowers bring? Pilgrims. I know that it is nowhere near Thanksgiving but now is when we start planning for the winter months. Garden fresh squash, green beans, potatoes, okra, carrots, and onions are just a few of the possibilities for this coming Thanksgiving. In later issues we will talk about food preservation but this month’s focus will be on natural methods to protect your garden from creatures that might want your plants as much you do.
As your plants begin to grow and produce fruit they can become a tasty treat for local wild life. However some of the things that humans eat are not palatable for the bugs, birds, and animals that might come in contact with your garden. Onions, shallots, leeks, and chives are all natural deterrents. Create a barrier around your entire garden by growing these plants at least two to three rows deep. When creatures come sniffing around your garden they will only smell onions and look elsewhere for food. When planting onions consider that onions are always ready to be eaten so plant them very close together and then thin and eat them, as they grow larger and fill in more area. This will give you a fresh supply of onions all summer long.
Peppers are another food humans eat that is distained by most wildlife. A simple bug and animal deterrent recipe that my father taught me as a young boy is made out of simple products you can find in your spice cabinet. A mixture of Garlic and Red Pepper is one of the simplest and most effective repellents around. One bite of a Red Pepper laced cabbage will make any rabbit think twice about returning to your garden. All you need for this mix is Garlic Powder, Ground Red Pepper, Water, Clean Spray Bottle, and Coffee Filter, Mason jar with a lid or a Sauce Pan and Stove are also needed. First mix 2-3tbs of Garlic and 2-3tbs of Red Pepper together in the Jar or Sauce Pan. Next add 3-4 cups of water. If you are using a Mason jar than replace the lid and shake vigorously then place in the sun and let it steep all day agitating the mix occasionally. The stove is a much quicker method. Stirring the pot regularly heat to a boil then set aside and allow the mix to cool. We are making a simple Garlic Pepper tea to spray on our plants. When our brew has reached its maximum potency we want to separate the liquid from the grit. Small particles of garlic or pepper can clog spray bottles. Use the coffee filter to strain the liquid into they spray bottle. Since this mix is water based it will need to be sprayed on your plants regularly especially after rain or watering.
Tobacco is another great pest repellent. My father was a smoker and always kept a jar of water next to him in the summer time to extinguish his non-filter cigarettes. When the jar was full of brown tobacco juice he would pour the entire mix in large circles around his plants being careful not to pour the mix onto stems leaves or over roots. Non-Smokers can simply go to the smoke shop and pick up a pouch of Zig-Zag rolling tobacco or for a little more money you can get the all natural American Spirit. Take a few large pinches of tobacco out and place them in a small jar of water. Allow this mix to sit and brew into a Tobacco tea. When the mix has turned dark then carefully pour the entire mix around your plants creating a barrier against creeping and crawly things.
Slugs can be a pesky problem. Pouring salt on slugs will melt them but salt is not good for your soil. The trick to beating slugs is the knowledge that the Slugs would much rather drink beer than eat your veggies. All you need to do is cut the top off of a Beer Can then bury it so that the rim is flush with the surrounding soil. After the can is buried fill the topless can with beer. The slugs will ignore your plants to drink the beer. When trying to get to the beer they will fall into the can leaving you with no more slug problem.
Now is when we need to start planning for the next year. Do you want Watermelon for the Walnut Valley Festival, or maybe Pumpkins for Halloween? Homegrown Corn for Thanksgiving, or Apples for Christmas, you can have hand picked Black Eyed Peas for New Year’s Day, or Okra grown in your back yard for Mardi Gras. Good preparation now will lead to a successful harvest at the end of the season. A successful harvest will provide you with inexpensive, nutritious, and delicious food for the year to come.
