Organic/Natural Pesticide

[Helen]

I bought a natural pesticide a couple of years ago but I can't remember what it was called, Can anyone help? it was a concentrate that you diluted with water & I'm sure was based on rapeseed oil, it worked by suffocating greenfly etc, I've done a search & found a couple of "Just Bug" killers which sound familiar but it seems a lot of money for a ready to use bottle, considering you need to use it reg it would cost a fortune at £7 per 500ml

[nick the grief]

Have you tried Google but carefull with the Rape

[sewer rat]

Did you know that OSR was designed / bred for industrial use - not for human consumption. We harvest hundreds of acres of the stuff every year - it absolutely stinks! - so much that after each harvest I throw my boots out, whether they are worn out or not.
I would not recommend anybody eat anything that has rape oil as an ingredient.
Rat

[nick the grief]

Ah, I can see your not a true scot yet Rat, throw away good boots Och noooo

[kale]

Hi
Does anyone know how to keep those butterflies off my kale that lay eggs and turn into caterpillars, I grow too much to go round collecting them.
Dont want to use anthing deleterious to health ( good word ay).
Organic if poss....It's dreadful to see them coming.
Thanks

[Jaxom]

Hi Kale and welcome to the Vine.
The only thing that will stop butterflies getting to your Kale will be a phisical barrier. Most people use netting or fine mesh. Some people use their old net curtains. As long as there is a gap between the kale and the net it will stop them landing on the leaves. If the kale grows and touches the net then the butterflies could still land and lay their eggs.
Jax

[Lesley Jay]

Yes netting is the way to stop them laying their eggs. You need to make some sort of frame to keep the netting above the kale. You could nail two pieces of wood together and make a T shape and put these in the ground at intervals or simply a stake or cane stick with an empty mineral water bottle stuck over it put in the ground at intervals. Make sure that the netting reaches the ground all around and put some bricks on it to stop it blowing about. It does work. I cover all my brassicas with netting.

[SueA]

Helen, I use a ready made spray of Bio Organic Pest Control which I bought a few years ago (it might have changed it's name by now) & although it was quite expensive it was a large size & has lasted ages as I only use when really infested with greenfly. Otherwise I just wash pests off with a spray of water. My dad used to mix up a soft soap & water solution & spray with that but I'm not sure that's considered organic. Spotted New Horizon Organic Garlic Barrier Granules in Ferndale Lodge Garden catalogue which claims to feed plants & put off slugs & snails, expensive at £10-95 but I might give it a try.

[SueA]

Helen, I just spotted an ad. in the April issue of GYO for Vitax Organic 2 in 1 Pest & Disease control which has ready made & mix your own & looks O.K. Their website is www.vitax.co.uk, I couldn't find the product on there but the where to buy section allows you to ask for information on particular products.

[Nicos]

Oh dear - I've just googled rhubarb pesicide to see what came up and came across this:-

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/pe...s/recipes.html

must be so difficult for the EU to regulate.

I hope those of you outside of the EU find it useful as , alas, here in the EU it would apparently not be permitted -so probably best not used of veg after all?

[blackkitty]

Sewer rat, I read an artical once on Canaola oil, which I'm sure you know is the American name for rapeseed oil. wouldn't touch the stuff now. Lots of scarey processes that they have to put it through to remove toxins.

[sewer rat]

Hi BK
Know what you mean - this stuff just isn't healthy, yet they continue to sell it and use it for human consumption despite the fact they know all the bad stuff - money grabbing b******s

[andrewo]

I've used the rhubarb one and frankly I would again, at least I know what goes into it and can store it safely, and dilute it and then pour it away on my compost without fear of causing any problems. I also use this:
http://www.yougrowgirl.com/garden/pesticiderecipes.php