This is the time of year when those pretty white butterflies can be spotted fluttering around the vegie patch.
They are beautiful little pests, laying their tiny eggs on the undersides of delicious leafy greens - that is until miniature soft caterpillars emerge and eagerly devour everything in sight.
When we first started gardening we decided not to use any synthetic materials*, preferring to keep everything organic where possible. So each year around this time I mix a batch of natural 'butterfly deterrent' and each year, it works.
Here is the recipe
1. A full bulb of garlic (not a clove)
2. A good few glugs of olive oil
3. A few tablespoons of Dishwashing liquid
4. A few table spoons of tabasco sauce
5. Water
Put whole garlic bulb through a garlic press and let it sit in a glass jar with the olive oil (strain through a tea strainer when done). Mix a few spoonfuls with dishwashing liquid, hot pepper sauce and water in a spray bottle.
Trust me,this will be good for your leafy greens. Indeed it's so beneficial for my rocket that I actually sacrificed a full head of our home grown, organic, fancypants garlic for the recipe. It physically pained me to crush it and not eat it, I even considered trying to salvage some, but didn't ;)
Do you have a natural garden recipe that you rely on?
THE GARDEN
EXODUS
*I am not an earth mother, last night I bleached my mo.... with bleach.
i think that might be the best darn disclaimer i have ever come across.
ReplyDeletealso, i can vouch for the effectiveness of this kind of spray. It does work.
it really does work, huh!
Deletexo em
I second the above comment re. disclaimer. I giggled out loud. Love your honesty.
ReplyDeleteWe're pretty lucky, our climate is too cold for the butterflies.. but this also means it's too cold for a lot of awesome vegetables!
oooh not too cold for Tomatoes, I hope :)
Deletex
Perfect timing lovely! Those peskies are hovering around our veg!! Thanks so much for sharing...and with hair as dark as night, if I bleached...a salty sea dog I would be ;) Hope all is lovely x
ReplyDeleteWe used that on the cabbage moths last year and they took off. Quick smart. Powdery mildew? Water and milk 50/50 sprayed on. Citrus chopped up for slaters to munch, beer for the snails. Am sure non of this is groundbreaking! X ashley
ReplyDeletewater and milk- got it, going to do that one this weekend!
DeleteTHANKS :) xx
Love the disclaimer. I want your garden. Jillian x
ReplyDeletethanks Jillian :)
DeleteNothing like veg fresh from the Garden
xo em
take chances and see what's coming around. Incredibly amazing in here indeed.
Deletelol...made me giggle :) Maybe I could try it on my basil - something is eating it. I'll come and cook for you if you help me keep my veges alive :)
ReplyDeletexx
D.E.A.L!
Deletexo me
I've read about the anti-bug recipe - but not tried it (I've been known to squeeze aphids between thumb and finger before...) I think it sounds a whole lot nicer than green fingers!!! It's time.
ReplyDeleteyes, try it, it really does work... but so does your method ;)
Deletexo em
am going to give the spray a go . thank you for sharing was feeling a little dismayed
ReplyDeleteBefore a butterfly grown into a fully grown butterfly it undergoes into different states.
DeleteI usually try a homemade critter killer every year but they never work for me. I will give yours a go x
ReplyDeleteLet me know how you go!
Deletexo em
This is just what I need, perfect timing Em, thanks. xo
ReplyDeleteI saw a white butterfly flitting about today. I tried to see where it would go but it just flew off. My problem is the slugs eating our lettuce and spinach. I've tried the crushed egg shells, but perhaps its too late when they are already there. Instead I go out each morning and peel the little buggers off.
ReplyDeleteI, too, had a little giggle at your disclamier. I hope you know I was just being cheeky the other day ;) x
Oooh our vege beds are ready for planting! I'll have to make some of this! But first plant the plants, Sarah. Was going to start with a bunch of tomatoes and rocket, good plan green lady of the gardens? x
ReplyDeletemmm get some stuff in the ground m'lady! Rocket, toms, basil,beans- all easy and prolific. Oh and sunflowers for Jude, naturally :)
Deletexo em
ooo that musta hurt, using the posh garlic. but it will pay off. will be making up a batch of this tomorrow, i think! i hope it works for those nasty 26-spot ladybeetles too. have a sweet day :)sarah
ReplyDeleteIt really did hurt! ALOT! Posh is so rare around here:)
Deletexx
Ooh, would that work on other pests do you think?
ReplyDeleteumm i'm not too sure about other bugs? could do?
Deletexx
btw, I thought you were cooking up the caterpillers!
ReplyDeleteGreat things can have a new change to take.. Amazing indeed.
DeleteThe best is Eco..!!
ReplyDeleteWe have so many of those green pests so thank you for this recipe. I am going to give it try. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipe Em. Can't wait to give it a go as those nasty bugs are eating up my silverbeet and, like you, I'm trying to keep things natural. Cheers xo
ReplyDeletePut whole garlic bulb through a garlic press and let it sit in a glass jar with the olive oil (strain through a tea strainer when done). Mix a few spoonfuls with dishwashing liquid, hot pepper sauce and water in a spray bottle.
ReplyDeleteOh thankyou emily! this is just what I need for a chemical free alternative as the little critters are attaching my rocket!!! as for the bleaching ...i'll have to stick to waxing mine xx
ReplyDeleteThank you for this recipe! My husband asked on the weekend "what are we going to do about these butterflies?" I quickly remembered your post from a few weeks back and told him "I have a blog post for that". I think he rolled his eyes but I know he will be thanking me (and you) when this spray works ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks again. I really enjoy all your gardening posts :)
I have heard that from larvae, butterflies come out. Though the receipt you provide is really interesting. I know people who grow this kind of stuff regular and sell them after.
ReplyDeleteWe used to see a lot of that when I was a kid in the Suburb. It transform into butterfly in a couple of birds. It looks weird on a work form but looks gorgeous when the wings appear.
ReplyDeletecheck website