Cucumber Beetles . . . Organic Gardening 101

Cucumber beetles . . .

kelawrence 16 years ago

Anyone have any suggestions for terminating them this late in the game? I have planted my cucumbers twice!!! Thanks for any help you can give! (I didn't have them last year . . . so I was unprepared this year!)

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trigger 16 years ago said:

Hot pepper Spray Recipe
Here is a recipe that I have found useful and was republished in Organic Gardening Magazine:
Hot pepper Spray Recipe:
1/2 cup hot peppers I use Habannero they are extra hot and I have learned the hard way to wear gloves.
2 cups water
Pure peppers and water in a blender.
Strain the liquid through a cheese cloth.
Apply every 5 to 7 days until the pest are gone.

Also take a look at the recipe gave me pleclare caliente pest control or something close to that name, it works well

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pointsevenout 16 years ago said:

Mix trigger's recipe with some organic insecticidal soap. Something like "Safers". It will make the hot pepper spray stick to the plants and or beetles you spray. As an alternative a little lite oil, ex: mineral oil, will also make the spray stick.

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pointsevenout 16 years ago said:

Also add some alcohol, grain alcohol, not the good stuff for drinking, to triggers hot pepper spray. The alcohol will act as a carrier to help penetrate the active ingredients into the pest. Beetles are a little more difficult because they have an exoskeleton as opposed to the soft bodied pests.

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pointsevenout 16 years ago said:

Doesn't have to be grain alcohol. It can be rubbing alcohol too. Just don't use your best sipping whiskey unless you want the pests to be happy when they go.

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garlicqueen17 15 years ago said:

I use Rotenone Dust & it's organic--in powder form--I put it in a canning jar with holes poked in the lid from the inside to out with a nail set. After you've planted your seeds watch carefully even when you just see them start to poke their heads out--po wder lightly in the am when the dew is still on the ground & plants immediately & it will stick better--they won't even come near the plants but if there's a good rainy day you'll have to reapply as soon as it stops--works on ALL plants for flea beetles & Brassicas(broccoli,cauliflower, cabbage, etc) for imported cabbage loopers, you know, the white moth that flutters from plant to plant. I only powder when I see the evidence not just cuz I feel like it so ONLY when necessary is the rule of thumb. It also works great on potato plants if you haven't crushed all the egg clusters under the leaves,simply powder the little nymphs when you see them & they'll be gone too. Works on your squash & pumpkin plants too. You can usually find the dust at your local garden center, if they don't have it you can ask if they can get it. I buy a good size bag of it & unless there's alot of rain it'll last you quite awhile because even a little of the powder will keep them from coming back.

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