eChipmunks

Garden pest/pathogen organic control and treatment?

What are some good organic methods for preventing or treating common garden pest/pathogen infestations such as white flies, aphids, blights etc Please let me know which specific infection your treatment treats..... Want to be well armed going into the spring planting season, so I don't have to resort to chemicals methods. thanks

Public Comments

1. its taken a few years here to get something approaching a guild or balanced ecosystem, i have wild areas along the hedge with food plants and hibernation places for predator species, e.g. hoverflies, wasps, frogs, toads and my top predator (slug muncher) the hedgehog. as for blight (Phytophthora), it gets my maincrop tatties every year, this year i am trying a resistant variety. hey, i was googling to find the right spelling of the potato blight and found this! Bacteria Take on Late Blight, Sprouting and Dry Rot in Potatoes http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2004/040927.htm
2. You can use soapy water to control white flies and aphids. BT works on most caterpillars. Sulfur is good for most fungus.
3. For white flies and aphids, use nicotine... Place a small wad of chewing tobacco into a coffee filter and close with a rubber band. Add to one quart of boiling water containing a couple drops of dish soap. Boil for 5-10 mins. Remove pouch and let cool. This is now a master solution that can be diluted 4:1 and sprayed on the garden. Lactobacillus bacteria in a spray solution are a good option for fungal issues. You can find versions sold to help prevent fungus on roses. You can even try your hand at keeping active culture of this. The bacteria competes with the bacteria for surface food and doesn't let the blight take hold. Neem oil is good for mites.
4. Try Diatomacious Earth. It's a natural occurrence in nature. It's made of diatoms, which are plant fossils left in naturally occurring soil/dirt. Most commonly, they're found near great water sources. You can buy this stuff by the pound on the Internet. It works as a pesticide by dehydrating insects from the outside in, resulting in death. The only downside to DE, is that it is VERY free-flowing and fine in nature, so wear a dust-mask at the least when spreading it; it'll "fly" everywhere. You'll have to re-apply it as it gets washed away by rain, etc. too ... but it works great, and is all natural. You can also spread it on your pets' fur to prevent fleas. Good luck!!!!!