Gardening Recipes

Fights mildew and black spot

  • 2 Uncoated Aspirin (325 MG) 
  • 1 Gallon warm water

Prevents fungus spores and fights black spot 

  • 1 Tablespoon baking soda 
  • 1 Gallon water 

Booster Shot for Tomatoes & Peppers BOOSTER SHOT  

  • 2 Tablespoon Epsom Salt 
  • 1-Gallon warm water 

Awaken Asparagus Starter 

  • 2/3 Cup sugar 
  • 1 Tablespoon Yeast 
  • 1 Quart of Water 

Molasses soil amendment 

  • 1/2 cup Molasses 
  • 1 Gallon water 

Mix well and you can use it in compost, as a soil drench, or mixed with water and sprayed on plants.

Fungus Infections & Rust Roses and Hollyhocks*  

  • 2 Uncoated Aspirin (325 MG) 
  • 1-Quart water 

Use as Foliar spray 

Mildew Cures

  •  1 ½ Teaspoons baking soda 
  • 1 Tablespoon Canola Oil 
  • ½ Teaspoon dish soap 
  • ½ Cup white vinegar 
  • 1 Quart water

Make sure you remove the diseased foliage and dispose of it in the trash—do not compost. 

Spicy Cinnamon Spray Mildew Treatment 

  • ¼ Teaspoon Cinnamon 
  • 1 quart of warm water 

Mix well and remember to spray both sides of the leaves.  Spray early in the day or late at night. 

Blossom End Rot Tomatoes

  • 1 Heaping full-size shovelful of compost
  • 1 Teaspoon Gypsum 
  • 1 Teaspoon Epsom Salts 

Mix together and put a heaping trowelful in the holes when planting tomatoes in the garden. 

Tomatoes and Potatoes  

This is a popular and inexpensive preventative and early control method. 

  • 1-gallon water 
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda 
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil (or other vegetable oil or horticultural oil) 
  • 1-2 drops dishwashing liquid (e.g., Dawn) 

Instructions for application: 

  1. Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a spray bottle or sprayer. 
  2. Apply to plants in the early morning or evening to prevent leaf burn and protect beneficial insects. 
  3. Spray all plant surfaces, including the undersides of leaves, until dripping. 
  4. Repeat applications every 7-10 days throughout the growing season. 

Natural Bug Juice * 

  • ½ cup of marigold flowers 
  • ½ cup of geraniums 
  • ½ cup garlic (chopped very fine) 

Mix with 10 gallons of warm water and sprinkle it over and around the vegetable garden where needed. 

*If you are attracting bees do not use when you have blooms on the plants. 

Basil Spray for Leaf Hoppers, Aphids, cabbage loopers, mites, and cucumber beetle.  

  • 1 hand-full fresh basil leaves 
  • ½ gallon jar filled with water  

Put in the sun for several days, then strain out the leaves and spray weekly to protect all members of the cabbage family, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and brussels sprouts.

Hot shot for Cucumber beetles, spittle bugs, leafhoppers and cabbage beetles  

  • 2 Tablespoons Red Hot Pepper Liquid 
  • 6 Drops dish washing soap 
  • 1 Gallon Water 

Let sit overnight, stir thoroughly.  Spray weekly to protect all members of the cabbage family, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and brussels sprouts. 

Japanese Beetle Repellent 

  • 1 Hand full of Larkspur and delphinium leaves 
  • 1 Gallon water 

Put in blender and blend flowers up and add to water.  Let stand overnight, stain out leaves and spray on plants. You can start treatment a couple of weeks prior to expecting the beetles and re-spray after every rain. 

Jerry Baker’s Cure for Slugs

  • 1 ½ cup Ammonia 
  • 1 Tablespoon Murphy’s Oil Soap 
  • 1 ½ Cups water 

Mix together and put in a sprayer. Overspray any areas where you see signs of slug activity. 

White Fly Spray 

  • 1 Cup sour milk 
  • 2 Tablespoons Flour 
  • 1 Quart Water 

Mix in a bowl with a cover and let it sit out two days Strain before spraying. Reapply as needed. 

Cabbage Worm Powder 

  • 1 Cup Flour (not self-rising) 
  • 2 Tablespoons of Cayenne Pepper 

Mix ingredients together and sprinkle a good coating over plants in the cabbage family, broccoli, cauliflower kale, and brussels sprouts. 

Let Em’ Have it Spray 

  • 6 Cloves of garlic, finely chopped 
  • 1 Small onion 
  • 1 Tablespoon Cayenne Pepper 
  • 1 Tablespoon Liquid dish soap 

Let this mixture sit overnight, strain. And place in a spray bottle and then Let Em’ Have It! 

Tomatoes and Potatoes Homemade Fungicide 

  • 1-Gallon of water 
  • 1 Tablespoon baking soda 
  • 1 Tablespoon Canola Oil (or other vegetable oil or horticultural oil) 
  • 1-2 drops Dish soap 

Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a spray bottle or sprayer.  Apply to plants in the early morning or evening to prevent leaf burn and protect beneficial insects. Spray all plant surfaces, including the undersides of leaves, until dripping.  Repeat applications every 7-10 days throughout the growing season. 

Deer Buster Eggnog

  • 2 Eggs 
  • 2 Cloves of Garlic, finely chopped 
  • 2 Tablespoons Tabasco Sauce 
  • 2 Tablespoons Cayenne Pepper 
  • 2 Cups Water 

Put all ingredients in the blender and puree.  Allow mixture to sit for two days, then pour around plants you need to protect.