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rhubarb
BUBBLES2
Posts: 23
I have always used the rhubarb sticks cut into small cubes for planting my brassicas, and have used the leaves steeped in water as a weed killer, but yesterday was told that the leaves can be used as a wash to deter the cabbage white. As they are toxic has anybody else either used it or heard about it. thank you
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Do you suppose it would work as an organic pesticide/fertilizer? All the recipes I find online add dish soap.. which I suspect is what is actually killing the aphids, etc. Anyone try it without soap?
The soap is to give it a consistency which sticks to the pest or plant. Personally, I don't trust any pesticide to be selective and only kill pests so prefer to let the birds hoover up the aphids and caterpillars or else cover with fine mesh or fleece to keep the pests away.
That way bees, hoverflies, ladybirds and other good guys are safe to do their work.
I've used soapy water to kill both bees (hornets built a nest in a branch, and my 3 year old go stung six times by them as they were in his climbing tree) and squash bugs. I think it's more than just making the water stick to the plant.. I think it's something in there chemically.
Obelixx, send some of your good guys my way.
I don't mind sharing some of my produce with the creatures (good and bad).. but not all of it! My ideal would be something that kills on contact, but doesn't linger.
Just feed the birds all year so they treat your garden as home. They will feed insect larvae and caterpillars and aphids to their young because they need the moisture content and easily accessible proteins to grow.
I have never used insecticides in this garden and my daughter, now 20, was never stung by bees. Bitten by mozzies and horse flies because we have cows next door and horses opposite in marshy pastures but not by garden insects.
The only pesticides I use are wildlife friendly slug pellets round hostas, clems and baby veggies.
Thank you all, I think at the moment I will net the greens, I have many bees, and they are laying their eggs in the bee houses I have around the allotment.