The following are a selection of recipes for farms choosing not to use pesticides and fungicides. Cyber-Hydroponics is currently developing a vinegar-based herbicide, and we’ll let you know when it’s in production.
lways test your mix on a small test area first before applying wide-scale.
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Garlic Spray
Ingredients
125g Minced garlic
500ml Water
Teaspoon Dishwashing liquid
Directions
- Combine ingredients and leave for two days
- Strain and store in plastic or glass
Use
Dilute garlic mix to water at a 1:50 ratio.
Repeat application after rain.
Organic Mix
Ingredients
Handful of Tansy leaves
Handful of Rhubarb leaves
Handful of Mint
Several Garlic cloves
Teaspoon Pure oil-based liquid soap
Instructions
- Boil leaves and garlic together
- Strain mixture and add soap
Use
Spray underneath leaves.
Bug Juice
Ingredients
½ Handfuls Insect pests
Water
Instructions
- Put pests with water at a ratio of 1:2
- Combine using a kitchen blender or electric drill paint stirrer until a misty pulp develops
- Strain mixture through cheesecloth or similar
Use
Dilute at a ratio of 1:4.
Use liberally.
Repeat as necessary.
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Lantana/Wormwood Spray
Ingredients
500g Lantana or Wormwood (stronger) leaves
1 litre Water
Instructions
- Boil leaves and water for 20 minutes
- Cool and strain
Use
Spray liberally on affective plants
Most effective on aphids
Rhubarb Spray
Ingredients
500g Rhubarb Leaves, chopped
1 litre Water
Instructions
- Boil leaves and water for 20 minutes in a glass or enamel container
- Cool and strain
Use
Dilute 1:100
Note Rhubarb spray will also kill predators and beneficial e.g. bees
Withholding period Two days
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Comfrey/Stinging Nettle Spray
Ingredients
Comfrey or Stinging Nettle leaves
Water
Instructions
- Cover leaves with water and leave until water turns pale brown or green
- Strain
Use
Dilute 2:1
Spray as a foliar fertiliser and tonic
Also helps to control aphids
Liquid Manure
Ingredients
Manure
Compost
Seaweed
Non-seedling weeds
Instructions
- Fork material into perforated sack or box of chicken wire
- Suspend by tying sack/box with rope to a stick over a clean metal drum
- Fill with water, cover from rain and leave until water turns brown
Use
Dilute to colour of weak tea
Apply only when ground is damp following rain or irrigation
{tab title="Fungicides" class="green"}
Chive Tea Spray
Ingredients
Handful Chives
Water, boiling
Instructions
- Combine ingredients and stand till cool
- Strain
Use
Downy mildew on cucumbers, pumpkins and zucchini
Milk Spray
Ingredients
Milk
Water
Instructions
- Mix equal quantities of ingredients together
Use
Dilute 1:9
Spray every 10 days
Mosaic disease on tomatoes, cucumber and lettuce
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