Hi, Jim here in St. Pete, Florida. I am trying to raise several varieties of common vegetables here and am trying to get away from Sevin, etc. On the second hand recommendations of an old timer, I wanted to try to go this route. I got creative with the recipe just a bit because his was vague. I mixed a half pound of habanero peppers with a pouch of Red Man chewing tobacco and put in enough water to let it mix and blended it up. I also added two ounces of dried red pepper. I have it all in a bucket with about two and a half gallons of water. My questions: 1) Should I add more water or more peppers, or does it sound about right? 2) How long do I let it steep, and how long is the shelf life? I stuck the tip of my finger in it this morning and it was very hot. I could taste that tobacco too. Vile. Anyway, my last question: Should I also add some mild detergent to the brew? Thanks for taking the time to read this.
The mixture sounds ok and it should be good for the summer. Adding a little bleach free dish soap or murphy's oil will help the mixture stick better to the harmful pests.
I have several tent caterpillar nests around my house. Some I can reach to get rid of. There are others nested too high in the trees; therefore, I can't reach then. For the high nested ones, if I use a long stick and poke a hole in the nest letting the eggs drop to the ground, can that be a solution or will the eggs grow into caterpillars when on the ground?
This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/problems/pests/tent-worms-tent-caterpillar-home-remedy.htm
Will ash from my wood burner kill grub worms?
Not too sure about that, but this article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/lawn-grubs-how-to-get-rid-of-grub-worms.htm
How can I be sure that I have aphids and not some other critter?
They will look like small dots, typically on the back of the leaves of the plant, but it can be on the stems too. I like neem oil for treating aphids. These articles will help you:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/homemade-aphid-control-a-natural-way-to-kill-aphids.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm
I have a leafy tree that has been attacked by bagworms. The bark of the tree has been somewhat damaged. How can I get rid of the bagworms and save the tree?
Bagworms are difficult to control because they are often unnoticed until mature. If numbers are low, they can be picked off in late fall. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is effective against bagworms if it is used against young larvae. Applications should be made at the end of June after all the eggs have hatched.
Is there a homemade spray for the white cabbage butterfly?
This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/broccoli/worms-in-broccoli-caterpillars-in-the-broccoli-head.htm
How can I identify and treat spider-mites?
These articles will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/spider-mite-detection-and-spider-mite-natural-control.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/red-spider-mites.htm
You can also treat them with neem oil. Here is more info: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm