Garden Girls: Maintaining a Healthy Garden

We hope that all of your gardens are in full bloom. I've heard from a few of our Garden Girls that it is about that time of the season where squash bugs and mildew are becoming a force to be reckoned with! While reading on the internet I found an organic approach to fighting the bug battle.

To make a milk spray to treat powdery mildew on fruits and vegetables or blackspot on rose: Mix one part milk with two parts of water. Pour liquid into spray bottle, and spray it on plants once a week.

To make a pepper spray to get rid of insects such as spider mites and aphids:

CAUTION: BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHEN MAKING AND USING PEPPER SPRAY. KEEP IT AWAY FROM YOUR FACE. IT IS HIGHLY IRRITATING, AND IT IS SIMILAR IN COMPOSITION TO THE PEPPER SPRAY USED TO SUBDUE CRIMINALS.

Place 1/2 tablespoon of liquid hand soap, 1-2 cups of jalapeno or habanero peppers, and one quart of water in a blender. Puree. Wearing gloves, strain the liquid through cheesecloth to remove solids. Pour into a spray bottle. Before spraying it on an entire plant, try it out on a small area, such as a leaf or branch first, to make sure it does not burn the plant.

Has anyone else tried an organic approach to gardening? We'd love to hear your ideas!