Question
The leaves of sprouted French thyme grown in a terracotta pot are decimated by unseen insects.  These plants are in Central Italy.  Can you advise me on how to eliminate these bugs and to prevent their return?

Thanks for you help.  
Sincerely yours,
Steve Brainard

Answer
Steve:
It sounds like a worm may be the bandit. Go to this web site www.gardensalive.com. They have all kinds of organic insecticides.Ask for their free catalog which has photos of insects. Meanwhile here are some homemade tips that may be of some help.
?  3 oz. chopped garlic cloves, soak in (2) teaspoons of mineral oil for (24) hours. Add slowly (1) pint of water and 3/4 oz. of a mild liquid soap. Store in a glass container after straining the mixture. Use as a spray for aphids, mosquitoes. Start with (1) part mixture to (20) parts water.

?  garlic bulb, (1) small onion, (1) tablespoon Cayenne pepper, (1) quart of water.
Let steep for 24 hours, then add (1) tablespoon of mild liquid soap. Use immediately or store in a tightly covered container, mark it and refrigerate for up to a week.

?  gallon of water; mix (3) tablespoons of mild liquid soap, (3) tablespoons of cooking oil, (4) tablespoons of hot pepper sauce or powder, (3) cloves of pressed garlic; Mix well and strain through cheesecloth. Be sure to spray under the leaves. Always test spray a few leaves and wait a few hours or the next day to see if it burns the plant. Dilute the mix.

?  Blend (1) cup of hot peppers with (2) cups of water, let stand for (1) day, then strain and refrigerate. Add (1/2) cup of pepper juice to (1) gallon of water for a spray.

?  Blend (4) hot peppers, (4) cloves of garlic, (4) cups of water. Let stand at least (1) hour, preferably overnight. Use undiluted as a spray.
?  

?  Boil (1) lb. of chopped rhubarb leaves in (1) quart of water for (30) minutes.  Strain and use as a spray for aphids.

?  (1) gallon of warm water, add (1) tablespoon each of mild dishwashing liquid and hot pepper sauce, plus (1) quart of rubbing alcohol(70%). You may use equal parts of alcohol and water, omitting the soap liquid and hot pepper. Try a few leaves first to see if it burns them.

?  CABBAGEWORM: A little sour milk poured into the center of the head, a powder of (1) part salt and (2) parts flour, or either salt or flour alone. Sprinkle into the heads while the dew is still on the leaves. All have proven to be effective. To double check for worm free heads, make a salt water solution. (1) tablespoon of salt to (1) gallon of water. Soak the heads for (5) minutes or so, until the worms float to the top. Then rinse and process as usual. Although the cabbageworm will visit other greens, you might want to use this for broccoli, kale, collards, cauliflower, etc.

?  GRASSHOPPERS: In an old blender puree (1) gallon of Spirea Bush leaves  with (1) quart of water. Strain the mixture and combine 1/2 cup of the mixture with (2) tablespoon of mild liquid soap and (2) gallons of water. It can be sprayed on fruit, trees, flowers, shrubs and gardens. The grasshoppers won't come within 30 feet of where it is sprayed. This was used on the Kansas grasshoppers.

?  GRASSHOPPERS: Blackstrap Molasses dilute with water (No formula given). The mixture clogs the hoppers pores so they can't breathe, but doesn't harm the plants. Spray on the perimeter on the garden where they always start from outside and work in. Re-apply after a rain.


?  A FEW PLANTS WITH SOME PROTECTION FROM FLYING AND BITING INSECTS:

BASILS                                           EUCALYPTUS, BLUE GUM
CAMPHOR TREE                              EUCALYPTUS, LEMON
CITRONELLA GRASS                        EUCALYPTUS, PEPPERMINT
LEMON BALM MINT                         LEMON THYME
MOUNTAIN MINT                            LEMON GRASS
    GERANIUM, SKELETON-ROSE            VICK'S PLANT
    PENNYROYAL, ALL                           IBOZA VINE

?  ANTS: do not like mint, tansy, cinnamon, grounded fresh orange and grapefruit peels. Put equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray counter tops, cabinets and floors for them.

?  POWDERY MILDEW on Roses, Rosemary and others: (1) teaspoon of  Baking Soda to (1) quart of water. (3) tablespoons to (1) gallon of water.

?  WHITEFLIES, APHIDS, SPIDER MITES: (1) tablespoon of mild dishwashing liquid to (1) cup of veggie oil. Take 1 or 2 teaspoon of the solution and add to (1) cup of water. Shake well and spray both sides of leaves. Be sure to leaf test first. More than (2) teaspoons in the mix will burn the leaves.

?  GARLIC SPRAY FOR: CABBAGE MOTHS, LOOPERS, EARWIGS, LEAF HOPPERS, MOSQUITOES, WHITEFLIES AND APHIDS. These are killed on contact. SLUGS, LYGUS BUGS AND HORNWORMS die more slowly. The homemade formula does not give the amount of garlic used to make it. You can buy the garlic oil from garden centers if you don't want to experiment.

?  JAPANESE BEETLES ON THE ROSES: (2) cloves of garlic, 1/2 cup of dried chiles and (1) quart of water in a blender. Strain and spray roses a couple times a week. Another is 1/4 cup of powdered garlic in a gallon of water keeps beetles of blackberries.

?  ROSES BLACK SPOT OR BLIGHT: (1) tablespoon of baking soda and  2-1/2 tablespoons of Ultra-fine Horticultural oil in (1) gallon of water and spray weekly. Spray more frequently if rainy. It is said to be good by Cornell University.

?  POTATO BEETLES: (2) tablespoons of Epsom Salts to (1) gallon of water. Spray leaves under and over. Check every 2 to 3 days. Spray early in the morning or late in the evening. TRY ON MEXICAN BEAN BEETLE ALSO.

Leroy