Safe Homegrown Pesticides

(Page 4 of 4)

July/August 1986
By Diane Downs 
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Moderation in All Things

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The list of beneficial garden plants goes on and on: Nasturtiums scare off bean beetles and aphids . . . horseradish will guard your potato patch . . . sage, catnip, thyme, and rosemary deter the cabbage moth (as does mint, which is generally helpful to cabbage) . . . and chives ward off aphids.

The alkaloid exudates from nearly every type of tomato foliage will deter aphids . . . stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) spray encourages healthier plants . . . chamomile tea protects new seedlings from "damping off" . . . a turnip or anise mist will rid your crops of spider mites and aphids . . . and basil spray discourages flies (mass plantings of the herb around a porch or patio will serve to keep the insects from such areas).

Even as you put such organic pesticides to use, though, keep in mind that an insect pest or two here and there will not pose a threat to your growing grounds. In small numbers the invaders simply provide food for their natural predators, such as swallows . . . each of whom may consume 2,000 insects a day! In fact, Mother Nature maintained a precious and delicate balance long before we decided to intervene. It's the duty of every concerned gardener to respect that balance, and to use repellents—even natural ones—only when populations of pests threaten to become excessive.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Author Diane Downs sells most of the plants listed in this article, plus some 150 varieties of live herb plants, herb seeds, and herbal products. For a listing, send $1.00 and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Lost Prairie Herb Farm, Star Route, Marion, MT 59925.

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