I haven't been able to get out in the garden much this week due to the rain. But I did go out today and make sure everything is looking good. The basil looks like it has been ate up a little bit. but everything seems to be growing and doing just fine!
With gardening season here in North Carolina, I have been going up and down the isles at Walmart trying to figure out all the stuff I need. There are so many chemical solutions available to help with fertilizing, feeding, and protecting your garden plants. Plant food and fertilizers can sell for as much as $5.00 a pound! Not to mention the fact that the thought of dumping chemicals on my tomatoes and herbs is not very appealing.
I am wainting to try to find easy and simple.. and cheap ways to garden. Here are a couple simple and inexpensive home remedies to help keep your garden looking (and tasting) its very best. Most of the ingredients can be found right in your kitchen!
Basic Plant Food:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder.
- 1 teaspoon epsom salts.
- 1 teaspoon ammonia.
Mix ingredients together in a gallon of room temperature water. Store the solution in an airtight, labeled container. Use it once every 4 to 6 weeks, or even less if your plants are happy!
Simple Pesticide:
- 1 minced garlic clove.
- 1 cup warm water.
- 3-4 drops of dish soap.
Mix the three ingredients together and pour into a labeled spray bottle. Spray generously on plants, both edible and non edible. Bugs will find this mixture repulsive (as will any vampires buzzing about your garden) and will leave your plants alone.
Safe and Effective Weed Killer:
- 1 gallon of distilled vinegar.
- 1 cup of salt.
- 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap.
Mix the ingredients and pour into a labeled spray bottle. Spray directly on weeds in the garden or pour directly into cracks of walks and driveways. Repeat as needed.
All of these mixtures are safe to use around children and pets and can be stored and used throughout the summer. To make larger batches of any of these recipes, just double the measurements! So this summer, skip the harsh chemicals and costly fertilizers. Mix up your own batches instead and save!
Happy gardening!
K Jaggers
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K Jaggers
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