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As I was watering the garden this morning, and carefully inspecting the plants, I noticed the first signs of aphids in the peppers! Given the mild winter, I fear that we may have trouble with pests this year – and that’s just the reality of growing your own. While there are many, many commercially-prepared products that sit on the shelves of my local nursery I am committed to natural gardening (and saving money); therefore, I have learned how to make my own organic insecticides using the contents of my kitchen!

Give these simple recipes a go if you find an unwanted insects crawlin’ around your precious plants.

Homemade All-Purpose Insecticide Spray

The Ingredients

15 cloves garlic 1 onion 3 cayenne peppers (or 3 jalapeno peppers or 1 tablespoon cayenne powder) 1/2 teaspoon liquid castile soap (fragrance free) 4 cups warm water

Method

1. In a blender combine the water, garlic, onion, and peppers and puree. 2. Pour the mixture into a glass jar, secure the lid, and steep for 6-24 hours on the counter. 3. Strain through a cheesecloth, then add the liquid castile soap and mix well. 4. Load the mixture into a spray bottle and you’re good to go.

To Use

I love this recipe! Try it on a host of pests in your garden and feel free to adjust it as needed with other insect repellent herbs. Spray the tops and bottoms of the leaves, thoroughly coating them. Store this mixture in the fridge and if it is strained well, it should keep for at least 1-2 months. Note: Be sure to test a patch prior to spraying the entire plant. Take care not to get this on your skin or in your eyes, the cayenne pepper will burn.