Farmer D's recipes

Anti-Pest-O

Before or after I put the seeds and mulch down in the garden beds, I'd pour fish-emulsion fertilizer into the soil. I think the directions said one capful to a gallon, but I used at least two. I used one gallon of this solution for every five square feet of soil.

Once that was done, I'd put the mulch down, tidy it up, and then pour another couple of gallons of this mixture on top of the bed. This would make the ground smell nice and ripe, and thus keep foraging animals away. There are de-scented repellents and fertilizers available that are supposed to have the same utility without the aroma.

I've seen recommendations about pouring fish emulsion (or some other kind of repellent solution) around the edge of a garden in order to make a scent border. I did that with a powdered fish-and-bonemeal product after we returned from the desert and saw that things had been gnawed while we were gone.

These mixtures can be applied once a week for three weeks when plants and seeds are put in during the spring. After that time, you can begin to use:

Garlic Marinade

Two gallons of water
At least 3 tablespoons of garlic powder*
At least 5 tablespoons of cayenne powder
At least 3 tablespoons of clove powder
One tablespoon of white pepper (preferably; black pepper will do in a pinch)
One or two tablespoons of hot sauce
No more than 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
One or two tablespoons of Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap (peppermint oil repels insects; the soap and oil will help the mixture stick to the leaves)

Mix these together in a bucket, scoop some out and pour it liberally over the leaves of new plants. Repeat every week for at least three weeks when plants are developing to remind any critters to stay away.

The mixture will need to be reapplied after a heavy rain. It's best to apply any kind of solution in the evening so that it can be absorbed into the leaves and the surrounding area overnight. The early morning is a good time, also.

If you apply during the middle of the day, the solution could cause leaf burn (or just simply evaporate).

* Fresh garlic would be even better to use, because of the oil and smell. Consider buying two or three pounds of garlic, dice it in a blender, refrigerate the pulp, and then add a couple tablespoons each time you need to make this mix. Also, interplant garlic, marigolds or calendula (which is, of course, a kind of marigold).

And finally, in order to deter certain insects (like, say, Japanese beetles) from chewing on leaves and flowers, consider using:

Oil Dressing

One gallon of water
One teaspoon of Dr. Bronner's peppermint (or some other "flavor" of) castile soap
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of neem oil
10 or so drops of peppermint oil
10 or so drops of citronella oil
10 or so drops of lemongrass oil

You can also add similar amounts of garlic and clove oil, but the three above are enough.

I blended these ingredients together in a gallon jug and then poured the solution into an 32-oz. spray bottle. One gallon will give you enough for three bottles' worth of spray (which was more than enough for all of the plants in our 1000-sq.-ft. garden). Be sure to spray the tops and bottoms of the leaves, as Japanese beetles in particular will just go to the undersides if only the tops have been sprayed.

Apply once a week during the height of summer (and soon after a heavy rain). Again, evening or the early morning are the best times to apply. Be on the lookout for bees, though, because you don't want to do them in or discourage them from pollinating the flowers.

Neem oil will also help to inhibit plant diseases... as well as nourish your skin, but that's a different story.