Bordeaux spray (Copper)

There are many copper compounds that are used as fungicides. The most common is Bordeaux mix which is a combination of copper sulphate and hydrated lime. It is accepted in organic farming provided that the number of applications is strictly followed and a proper soil amendment is observed to prevent copper accumulation in the soil.
Bordeaux mix spray
Materials needed to make a gallon mixture

• 3 ½ tbsp of copper sulphate
• 10 tbsp of hydrated lime
• 1 gallon of water (4 liters of water)
• Wooden stick
• Plastic bucket

How to prepare?

1. Add copper sulphate and hydrated lime in water. Make sure to use plastic container.
2. Stir well using a wooden sick or ladle.
3. Protect self from direct contact with the solution.

How to use?

1. Spray plants thoroughly preferably early in the morning, in a dry and sunny day. In this way, the plants have the time to dry and the solution can not penetrate into the leaves’ tissues
2. Constantly shake the sprayer while in the process of application to prevent the solution from clogging

Pest controlled

1. Flea beetles on tomatoes and potatoes
2. Anthracnose
3. Bacterial blight
4. Bacterial wilt
5. Black spot
6. Downy mildew
7. Late blight on solanaceous crops
8. Powdery mildew
9. Rust
10. and many other disease causing pathogens

Standard procedures for the preparation and application of homemade extracts

1. Select plant parts that are free from diseases.
2. When storing the plant parts for future usage, make sure that they are properly dried and are stored in an airy container (never use plastic container), away from direct sunlight and moisture. Make sure that they are free from molds before using them.
3. Use utensils for the extract preparation that are not use for your food preparation and for drinking and cooking water containers. Clean properly all the utensils every time after using them.
4. Do not have a direct contact with the crude extract while in the process of the preparation and during the application.
5. Make sure that you place the plant extract out of reach from children and house pets when leaving it overnight.
6. Harvest all the mature and ripe fruits before plant extract application.
7. Always test the plant extract formulation on a few infested plants first before going into large scale spraying. When adding soap as an emulsifier, use a potash-based one.
8. Wear protective clothing while applying the extract.
9. Wash your hands after handling the plant extract.

Baking Soda

(Sodium bicarbonate)

Baking soda is a white soluble compound that has fungicidal properties when used as spray on diseased plants. It also serves as protectant (on plants) from disease-causing pathogens.
Method 1

• Mix 1 tbsp of baking soda and 1 tbsp of dormant oil or vegetable oil
• Add 4 liters of water
• Stir well
• Add ½ tbsp of dish washing liquid soap
• Stir it again

Method 2

• Dissolve 1 tbsp of baking soda in 4 cups of warm water
• Add 1 tsp of liquid soap
• Stir well

Method 3

• Mix 1 tbsp of baking soda and 2 1/2 tbsp of vegetable oil
• Add 4 liters of water
• Stir well

How to apply?

1. Fill-in water can or sprinkler.
2. Stir or shake the container from time to time to prevent soda from separating.
3. Repeat application every after 2 weeks.
4. Apply baking soda spray as soon as the symptoms appear. Be sure to include the undersides of the plants’ foliage.

Pest controlled

1. Powdery mildew
2. Black spot
3. and other fungal diseases

Standard procedures for the preparation and application of homemade extracts

1. Select plant parts that are free from diseases.
2. When storing the plant parts for future usage, make sure that they are properly dried and are stored in an airy container (never use plastic container), away from direct sunlight and moisture. Make sure that they are free from molds before using them.
3. Use utensils for the extract preparation that are not use for your food preparation and for drinking and cooking water containers. Clean properly all the utensils every time after using them.
4. Do not have a direct contact with the crude extract while in the process of the preparation and during the application.
5. Make sure that you place the plant extract out of reach from children and house pets when leaving it overnight.
6. Harvest all the mature and ripe fruits before plant extract application.
7. Always test the plant extract formulation on a few infested plants first before going into large scale spraying. When adding soap as an emulsifier, use a potash-based one.
8. Wear protective clothing while applying the extract.
9. Wash your hands after handling the plant extract.

Field sanitation

Field sanitation is an important and highly effective farm practice to keep most pests under control.

1. Use sterilized or diseased-free seeds for sowing.
2. Properly select healthy plants for transplanting.
3. Keep weeds under control at all times. Keep the surroundings of your farm free of weeds, unless they are maintained and intended as habitat for natural enemies.
4. Make yourself ‘clean’. Always bear in mind that you might be the carrier of the pests while you move from one plant to another.
5. Pull plants that are heavily infected with insect pests and those that are showing heavy symptoms of disease infection.
6. Prune the plant parts where insect pests are found congregating and those that are showing heavy symptoms of disease infection.
7. Properly dispose all the infested plants. Do not put them on compost pile.
8. Pick rotten fruits and collect those that dropped. Diseased and pest infested fruits must be properly disposed. Do not put them on compost pile.
9. Plow-under the crop residues and organic mulches. This improves the soil condition and helps disrupt the pest’s lifecycle. The pest is exposed to extreme temperature, mechanical injury, and predators.
10. Maintain cleanliness on the irrigation canals.
11. When possible, remove all the crop residues after harvest. Add these to your compost pile.
12. Make your own compost. Your compost pile is where you can place your plant trimmings and other plant debris.
13. Clean your farm tools. Wash plows, harrows, shovels, trowels, pruning gears, bolos after use. Lightly oil pruning gears.

Seed treatment

These are the available seed treatment solutions that can be used to treat seeds before they are planted.

Gliricidia bark extract
(Stoll; p.125)

1. Chop 1 kg of Gliricidia bark.
2. Add enough water.
3. Soak 13 kg of corn seeds for 12-14 hours.
4. Discard seeds that float.
5. Immediately sow the seeds in a well prepared field.

Pest controlled: Seedborne pathogens on corn

 

Sweetflag rhizome extract
(Sridhar, et. al; p. 40)

1. Pound or grind dried sweetflag rhizome.
2. Take 10 g sweetflag rhizome powder and add 60 ml of water.
3. Mix properly.
4. Strain.
5. Soak the seeds into the filtrate for 30 minutes before sowing.
6. Discard seeds that float.
7. Sow seeds on well prepared soil.

Pests controlled: Seedborne pathogens

 

Sweetflag rhizome and cow’s urine extract
(Sridhar, et. al; p. 40)

1. Boil 1 l of water and let it cool.
2. Mix 50 ml of cow’s urine, 50 ml of sweetflag powder extract, and 1 l of water.
3. Add the seeds into the filtrate.
4. Soak seeds for 15 minutes before sowing.

Pest controlled: Seedborne pathogens

 

Vinegar solution

1. Mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 4 cups of water
2. Place the seeds on a small cotton bag
3. Dip the bag into the vinegar and water solution
4. Dry dipped seeds on old newspapers and make sure that seeds are completely dry before storing

 

Bleach solution

1. Mix 1 part of bleach to 9 parts of water
2. Place the seeds on a small cotton bag
3. Dip the bag into the bleach solution
4. Dry dipped seeds on old newspapers and make sure that seeds are completely dry before storing

 

Hot water treatment

Hot water treatment is used to help reduce the seedborne pathogens that cause diseases on plants. However, the specified temperature and time interval should be strictly followed in order to keep the effectiveness of the seeds to germinate. Ask for assistance from qualified personnel from your local agriculturist office if you are unable to do this. 

Procedure

1. In a large pot put plenty of water.
2. Heat the water following the required temperature.
3. Place seeds in loose cotton bag and submerge it in water. Follow strictly the recommended temperature and the time interval required. It is important that the water is maintained at a uniform temperature throughout the container.
4. Constantly stir the water while soaking the bag.
5. Suspend the bag- do not let it touch the bottom of the pot.
6. Remove the bag and emerge it in cold water to quickly stop the heating.
7. Spread the seeds to cool and dry.
8. Do not store treated seeds. Sow them on well-prepared seedbeds.

 

Heat treatment recommendations

1. Brussels sprout, cabbage, eggplant, tomato, spinach – 122°F/50°C: 25 minutes (Nesmith,1994)
2. Broccoli, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, carrot, collards, kale, kohlrabi, turnips – 122°F/50°C: 20 minutes (Nesmith,1994)
3. Pepper – 125°F/51.6°C: 30 minutes (Nesmith,1994)
4. Tomato – 125°F/51.6°C: 30 minutes (CABI, 2004)
5. Eggplant – 122°F/50°C: 30 minutes (Ellis; Bradley, 1996 p.423)
6. Carrots – 118°F/47.7°C: 20 minutes (Ellis; Bradley, 1996 p.423)

Lemongrass extract

Lemongrass

Common names: Citronella, Citronella grass, Lemongrass 
Scientific name: Cymbopogon marginatus, C. nardus, C. citratus
Family: Gramineae 

 
Photo courtesy of Les Bohm

Plant parts used: Leaves, roots

Mode of action: Insecticidal, repellent

Lemongrass extract (Stoll, 2000: p. 171) 

50 g of ground lemongrass 
2 liters of water

Method of preparation: Soak the ground lemongrass into water for few hours. Strain.

How to use: Spray onto lettuce, tomatoes, and carrots

Target pests: Leaf blight, Bacticidal

Standard procedures for the preparation and application of the plant extracts

1. Select plant parts that are free from diseases.
2. When storing the plant parts for future usage, make sure that they are properly dried and are stored in an airy container (never use plastic container), away from direct sunlight and moisture. Make sure that they are free from molds before using them.
3. Use utensils for the extract preparation that are not use for your food preparation and for drinking and cooking water containers. Clean properly all the utensils every time after using them.
4. Do not have a direct contact with the crude extract while in the process of the preparation and during the application.
5. Make sure that you place the plant extract out of reach from children and house pets when leaving it overnight.
6. Harvest all the mature and ripe fruits before plant extract application.
7. Always test the plant extract formulation on a few infested plants first before going into large scale spraying. When adding soap as an emulsifier, use a potash-based one.
8. Wear protective clothing while applying the extract.
9. Wash your hands after handling the plant extract.

Mealybugs

Mealybugs or wooly aphids are probably the most destructive of all the pests. They grow in huge numbers and like aphids, suck out nutrients from the plants, leaving them to die. Surviving plants are often infected by fungus even after the mealybugs are removed or become very weak. Mealybugs have an outer layer of white, waxy and fuzzy substance, which gives them resistance to pesticides and predators. The waxy layer can also be shed to protect eggs when they are laid, causing their numbers to grow very fast as they have not much natural enemies. Mealybugs can either grow on the leaf or the root, both being equally damaging. Soil affected by root mealybugs will need to be removed or else they will infect the next batch of plants in the affected area.

Mealybugs can be controlled the same way as aphids. However since they have a pesticide resistant coating, not all remedies may work. A chili and garlic spray mixture, which can be made by boiling equal parts of garlic and chili together and then diluted with water and some dishwashing liquid, will remove mealybugs from the affected plant. Plants like mint and basil can help repel them when planted nearby.

Aphids

Aphids are insects that are invade plants and suck the juices of the plant. They come in many colors and can either fly or crawl depending on the stage of its development. They are very tiny but they come in clusters, making them easy to spot. Aphids suck the plant’s juices, denying the plant of its nutrients and causing it to die and wilt. They also multiply and spread very quickly and can overwhelm a garden in a very short time. They also spread diseases between plants as they go along and secrete a sugary substance called honeydew to get ants to protect them against their natural predators.

Aphids can be hosed down with water from infected plants to reduce their population, especially from under the leaf. Garlic juice spray also works perfectly in repelling and eliminating remaining aphids. Putting foil on the base of plants can also repel the aphids. Planting chives, mint and basil helps repel aphids, as they do not like the scent of these plants. Lastly, making mulch from banana peels also repels aphids as well. Do keep the garden beds clear of vegetation as these attracts aphids.

Garden Ants

Garden Ants are ants that appear and live in the garden on a regular basis. On their own, they are harmless except invading a fruit or two, but they often brings their cows out for grazing on your plants. And those cows could be aphids or mealybugs which produces sugar for the ants while they destroy your crops. This is the main reason why most gardeners want to get rid of them because if you destroy the aphids, the ants will just bring more up from their nest so they, in other words, are the source.

Good news is that there are a few solutions available to repel the ants. Sprays made of tea, lemon juice or vinegar work very well although they need to be reapplied regularly. Another solution is to line the garden with chalk, talcum powder or flour around the plants as this also repels the ants and must be reapplied when it gets washed off by the rain.

Ants are very persistent in general and can be quite hard to manage, but with constant vigilance they can be avoided.

Snails

While they may be slow moving, snails can also damage crops as they feast on the whole plant when they are able to get near them. Like caterpillars, in small numbers the damage is not apparent but in bigger numbers they can wipe out entire garden plots as each snail can eat 2-3 times their bodyweight in foliage. Snails feed on plants and like dark, damp places and feed during the night to escape the heat of the day. Snails breed a lot as well and this could cause a huge infestation of them in a garden.

Once infested with snails, you could pick them out one by one, or use beer traps to lure them by burying saucers of beer in the soil. This somehow attracts the snails and they will fall into the saucer, allowing you to catch them the next day to relocate them.

Preventing them from invading the garden would involve sprinkling the ground with cedar or pine chips, which repels the snails. Another alternative would be to put stakes around the plant or cage them to stop the snails from reaching them.

Caterpillars

While they may grow into beautiful butterflies, caterpillars can be devastating to your garden and crops. If caterpillars have invaded your garden, you will see specks of butterfly eggs on leaves initially, and then holes on the leaves when they hatch into caterpillars. They can come in small amounts or huge numbers which will effectively kill the plant as they chew their way through it. They usually come in seasons and are sometimes specific to certain plants.

Caterpillars can be easily prevented by using floating row covers to cover the plants and prevent the butterflies from landing and laying eggs on the plants. Another remedy that works mysteriously, but works is to wrap the base of the plants with cardboard. Another method to repel caterpillars are to spray a mixture of garlic and chilli juice on the plants.

Caterpillars may or may not cause huge amount of damages in general, but if they get out of control they must be stopped.