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Folklore Remedies
Try these adapted folklore remedies when common garden problems arise. These work best if applied in the cool of the early morning or late evening – as opposed to the heat of the day or when bees are gathering nectar for pollinating the rest of your garden.
These remedies are deemed safe, and are not harmful on skin contact to humans or on plants systems and their leaves. However, it is advisable to always try a few leaves first - then leave overnight, or for a few days, before spraying fully. In the vegetable garden we recommend you pick off all ripe fruit and/or vegetables before spraying.
For Powdery Mildew or Black Spot or Both
At first sign of powdery mildew or black spot mix the following spray:
- 2 litres of water
- 1 tspn cooking oil, or a tspn of neem oil, or 20 drops Australian Tea Tree oil
- A few drops dishwater liquid soap
- 1 tspn baking soda
- 100mls Biofeed (aids plant system against disease and pests)
Mix together well. Always spray early morning or late evening only. Apply 3 or 4 days while symptoms last
For Aphids
At first sign of aphids mix the following spray:
- 2 litres water
- 1 dessertspoon household bleach
- 1 dessertspoon malt vinegar
- Half tspn sugar
- A few drops dishwaster liquid soap
- 100mls Biofeed (aids plant system against disease and pests)
Mix together well. Always spray early morning or late evening only. Apply 3 or 4 days while symptoms last.
Recommended Reading
Barbara W. Ellis and Fern Marshall Bradley.
The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control.
Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, 1996.
Amazon.com's organic gardening books
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