How to treat cabbage from pests with soda and is it possible
Pests in the garden are familiar to many summer residents. How to deal with them without resorting to chemicals. Baking soda can help you in this challenging struggle.
Pests that attack cabbage
The number of insects damaging cabbage beds is small, but the problem is that they are very difficult to remove.
- Cruciferous flea. A small jumping insect that destroys green leaves in one day, quantitatively three times its own weight. Young crops and Chinese cabbage are most affected.
- Caterpillars. Eggs laid by butterflies are hatched and voracious caterpillars are born, which are able to destroy many heads of cabbage.
- Aphid. The insect is green. It affects young plants. The leaves curl and black dots appear on them.
- Cabbage fly larvae. Destroy the underground part of the plant.
- Slugs and snails. Nocturnal pests that are difficult to catch during the day. And they cause great harm, because all night long they only do what they eat.
Baking soda is the enemy of many pests
To get rid of annoying insects that not only harm, but also destroy entire plants, you can use an improvised tool.
A solution of baking soda or sodium bicarbonate itself is intolerable to many of them. Therefore, timely treatment will help get rid of pests for a while.
Do not worry about white bloom remaining on the plant after treatment. It is absolutely harmless to the human body.
Soda from pests for cabbage:
- Method of seed treatment.
First of all, you can process seeds prepared for planting. Soda acts as an antiseptic. Pre-defend 1 liter of water, then add 5 gr. soda. Stir and dip the seeds into it for 4-6 hours.
- The ways protecting cabbage from caterpillars.
Caterpillars that cause irreparable harm to cabbage forks cannot tolerate baking soda. You don't even need to dilute the solution, just sprinkle the leaves with dry soda. Preferably from both sides. A greater effect can be achieved if the plant is treated in the early morning. When the dew has not yet dried, this will help keep the substance on the cabbage longer.
Another way to protect against caterpillars is to mix equal amounts of flour and baking soda. Sprinkle on the leaves as well.
In the fight against these pests, cultivation of the land will help. It is enough to sprinkle the area around the cabbage with soda several times per season.
- The ways protecting cabbage from aphids.
Small insects are able to destroy the plant completely, so a lot of time is devoted to fighting them.Spraying with soda solution will help protect cabbage from aphids. For 10 liters of water 4 tbsp. spoons of the substance and 2 tbsp. spoons of liquid soap. Pour into a puller and process the plants.
The use of soda gives a short-term effect, but the undoubted plus is that it is a completely safe method of struggle. It is enough to process several times within one season and the insects will not cause much damage.
What you need to know when preparing a soda solution
You can treat plants with soda, but you should do everything right. Otherwise, the effect will be negative.
- The solution is applied immediately after preparation.
- Do not use aluminum and metal utensils.
- The water should be clean, if possible filtered.
Water temperature no more than 50 ⁰C. The higher the degree, the more the soda loses its beneficial properties.
Pests in the garden are a sore subject for all summer residents, soda copes with many of them. But also, it helps against diseases of various plants. For example, it helps to cope with powdery mildew, late blight and many others.
Additional improvised insect control
In addition to sodium bicarbonate, pest control on cabbage can be done in other ways, without the use of chemicals.
Methods for destroying most pests:
- Infusion of valerian. For 3 liters of water, a vial of valerian and 1 tbsp. spoon of liquid soap. With this solution, cabbage should be processed. This will scare away insects and allow them to grow further.
- Ammonia. Take 1 bottle and dilute it to 5 liters. water while adding 1-2 tablespoons of liquid soap.
- Garlic. Take 800 gr. garlic (preferably unpeeled) pour boiling water over. Let it boil for another 2 hours. Then pour the resulting solution, diluted in half with water, over the beds with plants. It helps fight aphids and other pests.
Infusions for processing
You can prepare various herbal infusions yourself. Treat plantings with them, and reduce the number of harmful insects.
- Onion husks, tomato tops (from aphids and caterpillars). Take 500 gr. husks, add 2 l. boiling water, leave for 1-2 days. Then add 2 liters of water and 1-2 tbsp. spoons of liquid soap. Brew 1.5-2 kg of tomato tops in 5 liters. water, let stand for 4 hours, then boil for 3 hours. Strain and mix with water 1: 2 (broth - water). After both infusions are ready, they are mixed in a 1: 1 ratio. The resulting mixture can be used to process cabbage.
- Ash, tobacco dust, mustard and liquid soap. A glass of ash, a glass of tobacco dust, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of mustard and 1 tbsp. spoon of liquid soap, poured with boiling water (10 l.) It is infused for a day. Treat the beds with aphid cabbage.
- Ash and tar shampoo. 1 glass of ash, 1-2 tbsp. spoons of shampoo and 5 liters. water. Insist day and spray from caterpillars on cabbage and cruciferous fleas.
Other ways to fight
In addition to making infusions, there are the following methods, grouped by pests.
From caterpillars:
- Sticks are installed on the beds and eggshells are hung on them. There is no scientific evidence for this method, but it's worth a try. Butterflies, seeing the shells, think that the territory is occupied, so they prefer not to waste time and fly by.
- Various covering materials also help. The more difficult it is for a butterfly to get to a plant to lay an egg, the more likely it is that they will remain intact.
- They are harvested by hand
- Attracting wasps, sprinkle cabbage with sweet water. Then these insects will do everything themselves.
From slugs:
- The device of traps. Containers with beer, sweet water with yeast are being installed. It is advisable to bury it at the same level as the ground. In the morning, just go and collect the insects.
- Sprinkle between rows of crushed shells or dry mustard.
- You can lay nettles, only you need to do this every day, the grass must be fresh.
Cruciferous flea:
- Vinegar. This requires table vinegar, 250 ml per bucket of water.Use a watering solution.
- Fir oil. Add to water and water the beds.
Aphid control:
- Treat the cabbage with soapy water. 10 liters of water and 300 gr. soap. Spray the entire plant.
- You can plant pest repellent crops around the garden. Garlic, dill, parsley, sage, and more will do. It is important that the plant has a strong odor.
Baking soda is used to protect cabbage from pests. It is important to remember that although it is safe for human health, it should still be used with caution.
Observing all the necessary requirements, and in no case increase the dosage. It is best to use complex methods, in aggregate, their effect is much higher.