Homemade Organic (Cheap for Me!) Pesticides!

I needed to share these few tips that readers have left in my comments for a cry out for garden help.

I've been having some bugs or slugs or something eat through my precious Gretchen (my #1 squash plant) and her cousins. This bothers me - obviously. So in my style, I was set to run to Lowe's to buy some pesticide. But I had no idea what to buy. I blogged about my problem. Bev at Home School Gardner gave me a recipe for homemade bug deterrent. Surprisingly, I had all the ingredients in my house so I left my pajamas on and just made it. Here is the recipe:

Homemade Orange Taco Pesticide (Name made up by me)

4 TBSPs Hot Sauce (I used Franks - I bought about 3 bottles recently due to those "FREE" coupons in the paper)
2 TBSP Crushed Garlic (I used the minced kind in the jar from my refrigerator)
1 TSP Hot Pepper Flakes
2 TBSP Vegetable Oil (I used corn, but whatever)
1 TSP Dishsoap
4 Cups Water


Mix hot sauce, garlic, pepper flakes, and oil. Let sit over night. Strain out chunks. Add soap and water. Put in spray bottle. Spray on plants sparsely. Reapply after rain and at least once a week.


I only did this a few days ago and I'm already seeing results! New flowers DO NOT have holes eaten through them! I actually have 4 or 5 small zucchinis! The flowers just fell off (probably from slug death!) before I used this special formula!

I did find some little slugs out there - even though Bev said to use it lightly, I have been spraying a lot on mine. And it's working. I'm going to be making yet another batch. I've been spraying on my other plants as a precaution. Most of it went to my squashies though.


Another tip I got was from Marilyn at Marilyn's Money. She told me to sprinkle Flour on the plants. I did not try this. But I have faith in Marilyn. She's from Ohio and Ohio is awesome.


Lastly, I got another recipe from Paula at SavingMoney101. This one is Orange Peel Spray. I didn't try this as I did not have any oranges or special soap in the house:

Pour 2 cups boiling water over the peelings from one orange then steep for 24 hours. Strain, then mix in a few drops of Castille soap. It is a pesticide that will kill aphids and also repel ants.If you dont have any castile soap you could probably use a few drops of ivory or dawn soap. couldnt hurt and wont harm your plants.

Do you have any special recipes to help deter bugs from your garden? I'd love to hear them! I'm green because I'm cheap.