Companion Planting and Natural Insect Repellers.

An important part of organic gardening including growing herbs is being mindful of companion planting and making use of some powerful insect repelling plants.

Marigolds are really potent as insect repellents.  Their powerful oils and strong fragrance tends to chase away aphids, whitefly, red spider, fliers, mosquitos, ticks and fleas.  You can use sprigs and leaves in with your seeds, especially maize seeds to store these safely.  Just tuck a fresh sprig into  the seed tin and it will dry over time. 


The bush marigold has become a much valued plant and has many uses.   

 All parts of the marigold plant are useable and making a spray is very simple and effective. 

 

Marigold Spray

1 Bucket of fresh sprigs of marigold flowers and leaves.   

 

1.5 buckets of boiling water

.5 ( half a cup)  soap powder.

Submerge the marigold flowers and leaves in the boiling water.   Cover tightly and leave to cool overnight.  In the morning strain the liquid and discard the used flowers and leaves onto the compost heap.  

Pour the liquid into a spritz spray bottle.  

Spray inside to get rid of flies and mosquitos.   Use can use a cloth dipped into the brew to wipe down your kitchen and other counters or window sills.   

You can also be used as a dog wash.  

For aphids , whiteflies and red spider mite, dissolve half a cup of soap powder into the liquid brew and spray onto the leaves and stems of the infected plants.   Do this for 3 days.   These insects will disappear.

Declare war on slugs and snails. Sprinkle marigold petals, crushed eggshell and used coffee grinds around tender lettuces plants to protect them or sprinkle sacred basil seeds along the path.  The dry seed bracts irritate the snails/slugs soft slimy underside and discourage them. 

Planting Marigolds next to vulnerable plants such as spinach, lettuce, peas, beans, squash, cucumbers and cabbages and even under fruit trees will keep them insect free.    You can also use the low growing bright orange marigold as a companion plant for strawberries, blackberries, goji berries and tomatoes.  This will help all these stay insect free and even the fruit flies will be gone. 

Planting a low level border around your vegetable garden keeps aphids and white fly at away.

Best propagated using seeds which can be collected from the plants when dry and then replanted. 


 Some other Recipes:

Make a Tamarind Spray for chasing away flies and mosquitos

Tamarind Spray:

1 Cup of chopped tamarind leaves

1 cup of chopped orange leaves and 1 cup of pared rind from the oranges. 

1 cup pared rind from a lime tree.

2 tsp lemon essential oil 

Boil the tamarind leaves, orange leaves, orange rind and lime rind in 2 liters of water for 20 mins.

Cool the mixtures and then strain it.   Use a fine sieve or some cheesecloth. 

Add the Lemon essential oil. 

Pour into a spritz bottle.  Shake when using to mix up the essential oil.  

Spray liberally in your rooms and even on the patio. 


Citronella Oil : 

Citronella is an excellent insect repellent.  Wipe the oil onto furniture and wooden shelves.  Can also be used as a floor wax or wipe out the dogs baskets.    Slugs and snails do not like the smell of citronella or lemon so you can use this oil to spray along paving or pathways. 

1 cup thinly pared lime rind.   Best to use a potato peeler to do this. 

1 cup chopped citronella grass leaves

1 cup chopped citronella grass base thick stems. 

2 cups sunflower oil  - just normal sunflower cooking oil

2 tsp lemon essential oil

2 tsp clove essential oil

In a double boiler, simmer the lime rind and citronella grass leaves and stems in the cooking oil. 

Stir frequently pressing down the leaves and stems into the oil.   

Simmer for 20 mins.  Then cover and cool and let it stand overnight. 

Strain the liquid to remove the stems, grass and rind.  

Add the lemon and clove essential oil.    Mix well. 

Best to store this mixture in dark amber bottles as this helps preserve the sunflower oil.  

Label and date the label so that you remember when this was made.  Sunflower oil has a shelf life of 6 months provided it is stored in a cool place. 


Happy gardening using herbs, flowers and companion planting. 




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