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Question by Jaime: How to get rid of garden pests?
I started a garden on monday. I went to Home Depot and bought pre grown plants, since we started late in the season. I think I have pests, and I want to grow organic. I’m growing tomatoes, eggplant, bell peppers, squash, basil, cilantro, oregano, chives, parsley, and melons. How can I get rid of ALL pests with home solutions, as long as it does not go on the actual plants. Any help, please?
I’m in zone 9B
Best answer:
Answer by Freedom
A strong blast of water from the hose will knock most insects off your plants.
As for critters like bunnies, raccoons and ground hogs, chicken wire is the easiest and cheapest thing to keep them away.
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Thanks, William
Cool
you can try companion planting,natural repellent plants(nasturtiums,marigolds,etc) and also the non toxic hort oil you can spray but the thing is you will NEVER get rid of ALL pests.it is really not even a good idea to do so.they attract predators beneficial to your garden.if you get rid of all the bugs in your garden you wont have bees,birds,butterflies etc as well.
I hate those orange bugs and aphids. pests are a problem to any garden. however structures can lessen if not eliminate their presence. Greenhouse is one and biodome greenhouse is another.
When I had no greenhouse yet, I get a tablespoon of dish washing gel and dissolve it in a liter of water. Put it on sprayer and spray the bugs and aphids away. You just have to clean your yields thoroughly after harvest or before cooking.
Take care and keep planting. It feels great producing your own food.
you cannot do what you ask as it is impossible. first off nothing will get rid of all the bugs and you don’t want to considering 97% are either beneficial or neutral. Also know that your plants can lose up to 75% of their foliage and still produce well.
When growing organically you must be able to ID the insects that are doing damage so you know what type of pesticide to use as most organic pesticides are specific to the pest so going out and blindly spraying usually does more harm than good. You cannot think you have pests, you need to go out when they are active and identify the insects. Only than can you formulate a plan of action
Most pesticides and repellents must go on the plants, that is how they work-direct contact with the pest insect. And if you have bacterial and fungal issues such as blights in tomatoes if the sprays don’t touch the plants they will be 100% ineffective
Water works great on aphids as does a soap spray
Peppers sprays work decently as a repellent
Hand picking of slugs, caterpillars and other bugs is extremely effective if done daily
Row cover is effective once you learn how to use it correctly
I suggest you find some web forums to learn a lot more about organic growing as you seem to know next to nothing and going organic means you must know what you are doing or you will set yourself up for failure. I suppose you have already tested and started building up your soil (this will take you about 8 years before your start getting great results and until the soil is really healthy you will have pest and disease issues) and of course you got the certified organic plants from Home Depot as the seedlings HD sells have been exposed to pesticides as well as fed synthetic fertilizers and are anything but Organic. Next time try a local grower, farmers markets usually have 2 or 3 people selling for real Organic seedlings and can give you good advice on how to grow them successfully Organically
and you are correct that you have started way to late, in your area you are about 3 weeks from weather that will be way too hot to grow the things you are planting so do not expect any fruits or vegetables from your plants and next year start your garden in January
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