Cabbage Protection: Parasites Inferno - All Caterpillars Silenced by Delicious Bait
Invading garden pests meet their match: Natural solutions to defend your cabbages
Offering a tasty treat for a variety of bugs, cabbages are no stranger to damaging pests. But don't worry, seasoned gardeners have come up with some clever, eco-friendly remedies using everyday items. Here's the lowdown on how to prepare two powerful pest-fighting concoctions inspired by PrimaMedia:
The Mighty Onion Skin Infusion
- Gather Onion Skins: Collect a generous amount of onion skin waste.
- Boiling and Steeping: Place the onion skins in a bucket or large container. Pour 2 liters of hot water over them. Let the mix sit for 2 days, then add another 2 liters of water and a splash of liquid soap to help it stick to the leaves.
- Strain: After a couple of days, strain the liquid and throw away the solids.
- Dilute: If necessary, dilute the infusion with water in a 1:2 ratio. Transfer it into a spray bottle and spritz your cabbage rows.
The Powerful Tomato Green Infusion
- Harvest Tomato Greens: Gather 1.5-2 kg of fresh tomato leaves or stems to avoid hurting the plant.
- Boiling and Steeping: Place the tomato greens in a container and submerge them with water (about 1 liter of water per 100 grams of tomato greens).
- Infusion: Let it steep for about 4 hours, followed by boiling for another 3 hours. Strain and mix it with an equal amount of water to create a 1:2 dilution.
- Apply: Spray the mixture on your cabbage plants, watching as the pests steer clear.
For an extra layer of protection, combine equal parts of the onion skin and tomato green infusions. This potent blend will keep pesky pests at bay without harming your crops.
Upgrade your pest-fighting arsenal with a handy garlic-chili spray!- Combine 10 cloves of garlic and 2-3 chili peppers in a blender with 400 ml of water.- Let the mixture sit for a few hours.- Strain and spray generously onto your plants[2]
Remember to apply these solutions regularly, typically every 3-7 days, and always inspect your plants to catch any infestations early. While using these natural remedies, don't forget to rotate different sprays like the garlic-chili concoction to avoid building pest resistance. By staying vigilant and employing these simple strategies, you'll be able to guard your cabbages from common pests such as cabbage moths and aphids without relying on chemical pesticides.
[1] Brown, J., 2021. Homemade Pest Sprays. [Online]Available at: https://gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/pests/homemade-pest-sprays.htm
[2] Garlic-Chili Spray Recipe- Homemade Insecticidal Spray [Video File]. (2018)Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_cn4JZH1Rk
- The mighty onion skin infusion can be prepared by gathering a generous amount of onion skin waste, placing the skins in a bucket or large container, pouring 2 liters of hot water over them, letting the mix sit for 2 days, adding another 2 liters of water and a splash of liquid soap, straining the liquid, diluting it with water in a 1:2 ratio, and transferring it into a spray bottle to spritz cabbage rows.
- For an extra layer of protection, combine equal parts of the onion skin and tomato green infusions to create a potent blend that will keep pesky pests at bay without harming your crops.
- Upgrade your pest-fighting arsenal with a handy garlic-chili spray by combining 10 cloves of garlic and 2-3 chili peppers in a blender with 400 ml of water, letting the mixture sit for a few hours, straining it, and spraying it generously onto your plants.
- Consistent application of these natural remedies, such as every 3-7 days, will help guard your cabbages from common pests like cabbage moths and aphids without relying on chemical pesticides.
