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.
General Insecticide Sprays
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.
SapSucker Sprays
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
Tonics
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
Fungicides
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