This is an update of an article originally posted on June 3rd, 2010.
Just like last year, my garden is once again being overrun with tiny grasshoppers! So far they haven’t decimated my crops nearly as badly as during the 2010 season when I planted 45 beans only to see not a single one survive long enough to get it’s first set of leaves. I even tried row covers before all seeds had emerged but I fear that I merely trapped the little buggers in there with a feast. This year we are once again experimenting with a combination of pyrethrin, insecticidal soap and garlic oil spray. The only challenge will be the weather, since the spray can damage plants if the temperatures and humidity are too high. Naturally, we are now in the midst of an oppressive heat wave.
Target insects: Aphids, cabbage loopers, grasshoppers, June bugs, leafhoppers, mites, squash bugs, slugs and whiteflies. May also help to repel rabbits! Never use oils sprays on Blue Spruce as it will remove the blue waxy coating on the needles! Because garlic contains naturally occurring sulfur it also acts as an antibacterial agent and fungus preventative.
- Combine 3 ounces of minced garlic cloves with 1 ounce of mineral oil. Let soak for 24 hours or longer. Strain.
- Next mix 1 teaspoon of fish emulsion with 16 ounces of water. Add 1 tablespoon of castile soap to this.
- Now slowly combine the fish emulsion water with the garlic oil. Kept in a sealed glass container this mixture will stay viable for several months.
To use: Mix 2 tablespoons of garlic oil with 1 pint of water and spray.
When working with oil sprays you want to monitor the climate conditions so your plants won’t get phytotoxic burn. Use this simple equation: Take the current outdoor Fahrenheit temperature then add to this the percentage of humidity, if the total is more than 140 don’t spray.
Example: Temperature of 80 degrees plus humidity of 67 percent equals 147, don’t spray. You also do not want to spray when temps are above 80F.
Will await the results of our effort.