Question
thanks for the quick reply julian!

i have never heard of "neem" before. could you tell me a little more about it so i have a better chance of finding it at the nursery, or something like it? my search on the internet says it's a tree/tree oil. is this correct? you mentioned it's an organic powder.

also, do you think safer's soap might work?
thanks.


-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
hi julian,

i'm growing several different herbs in a container on my deck. i noticed something started eating the leaves (mostly upper leaves) of my basil and now it's also eating my spearmint and parsley leaves. first i thought it was slugs so i put down some egg shells, but the problem persisted. so next i thought it was earwigs so i spread some crawling insect powder under the herbs but that didn't help either.

along with the eaten edges, i have noticed that there are tiny little black "grains" on the leaves which i think might be left behind by whatever's causing the damage.

any ideas or suggestions would be most welcomed. thanks!


Answer -
Debra;
The tiny black spots are manure droppings from a worm. It usually attacks the mint and basil plants. You must look under the leaves to find them. Clean all old plant leaves away from the bottom of the plant.   there is an organic  powder called "Neem" or similiar to this which will not burn the plant leaves. Follow directions carefully. If you have narrow planters and the plant has over taken the planter, this causes plant stress when container is too small. The healthier the plant, less insect infestation. Keep your plants pruned by taking off 1/3 of new growth on each branch. Make sure they are receiving the full morning sun; anything less will weaken the plant and cause the stress too!

Julian  

Answer
Debra:
The Neem does come in liquid form also. The best place is Natural Food stores like "Fresh Fields" or natural food stores. Type in natural insecticides and it will give a list of companies. I am sending you my Homemade list that you may try.

  
Homemade Insect Sprays

[email protected]          www.all experts.com


These will not be listed in alphabetical order, so look carefully at them all:
In all of these formulas, please wear protective materials for your hands and face, especially those with sensitive skin. Some of these formulas are from the (ORGANIC GARDENING'S WEED AND PEST CONTROL GUIDE, SUMMER-1997.) THIS IS A MUST HAVE GUIDE. IT IS PUBLISHED ONCE A YEAR. SEE LOCAL BOOKSTORES.

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.

MANURE TEA: Fill a burlap or woven plastic feed bag with manure. Tie bag at the top and suspend in large trash can or barrel. I use the formula of (5) gallons of manure to (55) gallons of water. Let it marinate for at least (3) days. Dip off the liquid and dilute to the color of tea.

ELIOT COLEMAN DRY FERTILIZER MIX: Mix equal parts of Bloodmeal, Greensand and Rock Phosphate(white). LIQUID FERTILIZER: To (1) gallon of water add (1) tablespoon of fish emulsion, (1) tablespoon of liquid kelp, and(1) teaspoon of Bloodmeal.

SLUGS PREFERENCE FOR THE TOP 10 BEERS:

Kingsbury Malt Beverage..1.14 ( most attractive )
Michelob.................................1.04
Budweiser...............................1.00
Bud Light............................?....89
Old Milwaukee...............?......81
Coors Light....................?.?...79
Schaefer.........................?.....?.69
Miller.............................?........?8
Stroh's.........................?........?.67
Miller Lite................?..........?57
MOTH CHASERS: Rosemary, Lavender, Wormwood, Southernwood, Cedar, Sassafrass, Bay Leaves, Cloves, Tansy, Spearmint, Santolina, Lemon Peel.

BITES AND STINGS: Fresh crushed leaves of basil or summer savory will relieve the bite and stings. Remember herbs don't last long and must be renewed.

MOSQUITOES AND GNATS: Rub a handful of fresh pennyroyal, lemon balm, lemon eucalyptus, blue gum eucalyptus, mountain mint, anise, thyme, basil (camphor,anise, lemon), bergamot and tansy. ALWAYS TEST YOUR SKIN FOR SENSITIVITY.

COCKROACHES: Rub oil of peppermint or spearmint where they roam, or combine equal parts of oil of rosemary and peppermint to rub on the surfaces. Fresh bay leaves placed around where they roam. Boric acid placed along baseboards and in close places. They walk in the acid and when they scratch their bodies, they bleed to death. DO NOT PLACE WHERE CHILDREN MAY GET TO IT. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON CONTAINER FOR PROPER STORAGE AND OTHER USES.

POISON IVY:    Lemon juice and crushed comfrey. Apply to affected area 2 or 3 times a day. Inside of banana peel stops itching, apply frequently. Apply the back of leaf from the Leaf Of Life plant to the area and tape or wrap and take off next day to see healed skin. (Tom Wolfe)

EGG WATER: Anytime you boil eggs, save the water. When cool, use it to water your seedlings. It's full of valuable minerals.

TOMATOES:  Planted on their side in a 4-inch trench will ripen a month earlier than usual. Bend the top upright and tie it to a stake. It will not break if you do it slowly. Continue to tie it to the stake as it grows.

HERBAL HOUSECLEANING.....Kimberly Childers

Boil a large bunch of lavender, southernwood or wormwood and tansy in 2-3 gallons of water for 10 to 15 minutes. Add 1/4 cup of vinegar, then cool. Pour into a bucket, and enjoy the fragrance as you mop it on. Other fragrant herbs can be substituted as well. Be sure to strain the mixture before using. You can use this on your vinyl and ceramic tile floors as often as you wish.

SQUASH BUG & CUCUMBER BEETLE:  Plant  DILL with all your vine crops. This versatile herb does "double duty" in your garden as a repellent for these 2 pest.

RATS AND MICE
They will not come into areas where catnip plant is located. They know this is the cats drug and they become 搒uper cats?when they get intoxicated from it.
Also try de-hydrated lime. Put 1pound coffee can into holes or areas they travel. They lick the lime from their feet and it makes them sick and won't come into the area. No other info, but they do leave the area where the lime is placed.

RABBITS & GROUNDHOGS
(SEE TOOTHACHE PLANT INFO FOR DETAILS)


Conversion Data

3 level teaspoons...................?.........1 tablespoon
16 level teaspoons..................................1 cupful
2 cupfuls..........................................1 pint
2 pints...............................................................1 quart
8 quarts.............................................................1 peck
4 pecks...............................................................1 bushel
1 bushel.............................................................2,150,42 cubic inches
1 tablespoon.....................................................1/2 ounce
50-60 drops......................................................1 teaspoon
1,728 cubic inch..............................................1 cubic foot
27 cubic foot....................................................1 cubic yard

1 cup=...............8 ounces.........1/2 pint...........16 tablespoons.............48 teaspoons
1 quart=.........32 ounces.........4 cups.................2 pints.........................64 tablespoons
1 gallon=...........4 quarts.........8 pints..............16 cups.........................128 ounces
31-1/2 gallons=.......................1 barrel

Vinegar ...............................freezes at 28 degrees above zero

Alcohol.................................Boils at 173 degrees

Water....................................Boils at 212 degrees

1 gallon of water at 50 degrees weighs..............8.34 pounds

If your water is strongly alkaline ( Hard ), moisten acid loving plants every month or so with water which vinegar has been added at the rate of 1 tablespoon per gallon.

If you don't want to use tap water for your plants, but have no other choice, place water in a container and let it set for 3 or more days. The chlorine will dissipate like it does in a swimming pool in the summer sun.