With all of the wet weather we’ve had in recent weeks, outdoor plants can use a helping hand. The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids (£12.99) by Whitney Cohen and John Fisher is packed with more than 100 family-friendly activities, including a recipe for homemade insect repellant which older children can whip up in no time at all.
Brewing up Homemade Insect Repellant
All-natural kitchen ingredients to keep insects off your garden plants.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 onion
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon washing up liquid
- Water
- 1 (680 ml spray bottle)
- Food processor
Here’s what you’ll do:
- Peel the onion and garlic clove.
- Blend the entire onion and garlic clove in the food processor.
- Measure and add 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper. Blend again.
- Wash your hands well. Cayenne pepper can burn if you accidentally rub it in your eyes.
- Scoop blended ingredients into a spray bottle and fill almost to the top. Let the mixture sit for at least 1 hour.
- Add 1 tablespoon of washing up liquid to the mixture and shake vigorously.
- The strong odors and tastes should deter insects from eating your plants, so spray your mixture onto the leaves of garden plants you want to protect, such as the leaves of a tomato or potato plant. Do not use on plants grown for their edible leaves, such as lettuce or kale.
- When you are ready to harvest and prepare your vegetables, wash vigorously to avoid a spicy surprise.
Also try this:
You can set up a simple experiment to test the effectiveness of your insect repellant. Plant an entire bed with the same plant, then spray bug juice on half of the plants. Then watch how the different halves of your bed handle pressure from local pests.
If you like this project, why not buy the book? Get your copy here.
