Pest and Disease Control
Pest and disease control can be accomplished by feeding your soil and rotating your crops before you have a large problem on your hands. We have had very few pests or diseases in our organic gardens.
The best way to fight pests and diseases is to feed your plants well so they will be strong and resilient on their own. Rotating your crops so diseases that may overwinter in the soil will not infect your plants and your vegetables and flowers will help them get the nutrients they need.
Create a healthy habitat for your plants; and, in some cases, introduce beneficial insects or other forms of biological pest control.
Organic insecticides are my last choice for gaining control of pests, but it is a good option if you really have some stubborn problems.
Some organic pesticides or fungicides can be used safely while other organic poisons are very strong and intense, although they are typically better than chemical sprays, use these poisons minimally and only in extreme need.
If you use any of these stronger products please take the time to read labels to learn about what you are putting in your garden.
In many cases, you can easily and cheaply make your own organic insecticides I have included a simple recipe below.
Most of the time, removal of diseased plants or in some cases hand picking the bugs from plants has been sufficient to control our pest problems. We have had some problems in our orchards with fungi and blights, so we have done some spraying with dormant oil spray in the spring which was quite successful.
Organic gardeners learn how to attract beneficial insects such as bats or bugs to their yard to help control undesirables (or you may purchase Lady Beetles, Lacewings or others beneficial insects). Learn to differentiate between good bugs and bad that can help or even destroy your garden.
Prevention and maintaining a healthy garden is the best cure for pests and diseases.
• Build up your garden soil by analyzing the soil type, moisture levels and pH levels and adding the proper nutrients.
• Use Maxi Crop or another seaweed extract to give your plants the minerals they need for their health.
• Take out weak or diseased plants to prevent further damage to your garden.
• Keep gardens clean of insect habitat such as old or diseased plants and piles of garden refuse.
• Rotate crops each growing season.
• Provide a habitat for beneficial insects.
• Observe and take care of problems in early stages.
Hand Picking is a good technique if your plants are not too heavily infested.
• Pick off any insects that are harming your plants
• Pull out plants or take off infested leaves
Homemade or purchased organic plant sprays are good to use if prevention and hand picking has not gotten rid of your pest problems. You can make your own or shop for organic pesticide sprays on the market. I strongly suggest against using any chemical sprays as they will poison your food and garden.
Old homestead remedy
Most homemade sprays use liquid soap or oil to stick noxious ingredients like cayenne or garlic to the leaves which will deter most plant predators.
Below, I have included a simple recipe that can be used to deter and kill most aphids, caterpillars, grubs and ants. It will also help with scab and scale found on fruit tree leaves. The oil and soap help the mixture stick to the leaves and have a suffocating effect, and this will help the garlic and hot peppers stay in place and repel insects.
It is important to reapply after overhead watering.
Be observant and careful not to spray if you already have beneficial insects such as lady bugs or lacewings that may be able to take care of your problem for you.
Try this simple organic pesticide recipe.
* 4 cayenne peppers or 1-2 tablespoon of cayenne powder)
* 3 garlic bulbs
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
* 1 tablespoon of biodegradable soap (DR. Bronners works great)
* 6 cups water.
Put the garlic through a garlic press and smash the hot peppers then soak overnight in the water, add vegetable oil and soap, strain through cheese cloth or a coffee filter. If you have a blender you can blend the ingredients and then strain and use immediately.
Use a simple hand or pack sprayer to easily apply the organic spray. When you are using sprays, make sure to have a mist setting and to spray the underside and top of foliage, spray your plants in the evening or in the early morning before the sun comes out as this is when the leaves will absorb the spray the best.
For larger pests like deer, bears, raccoons and foxes, I suggest good fences. We have a good 6-foot woven wire fence around our whole garden area (8 acres) which has been a great preventative measure.
In some cases, early sweet corn which can get ravished by raccoons may require the use of an electric fence around the corn patch. We also trap ground squirrels and foxes when they become over populated and a problem.
Prepare today to keep the pests away! Tomorrow we will be giving you some harvest tips for your successful garden harvest!
