Emma Miller
Many dacha owners are sure that the Colorado potato beetle can be fought only with the help of “chemicals” – folk remedies are powerless here. In fact, this is not true – the insect pest adapts to any conditions and even gets used to many substances.
What will help from the Colorado potato beetle – proven means
Experienced gardeners say that if the Colorado potato beetle appeared in the vegetable garden, then you can fight it indefinitely. This unpleasant pest attacks potato beds and spoils the harvest. Worse – the Colorado potato beetle becomes immune to all the chemical agents that can be used, so it is better to resort to folk methods of control.
Hand-harvesting the Colorado potato beetle
Ancient as the world, and a reliable method for those who are not squeamish and not afraid – to collect insects by hand. This method is suitable if you have enough time and the area is small. For those who see the manual collection as the most reliable way:
- Collect the bugs in a bucket with a salt solution;
- Try not to squeeze the beetles in between the rows of potatoes;
- Inspect the whole bush – both from below and from above;
- If you find clutches on the leaves, remove them too.
Keep in mind that beetles will reappear after manual collection, as they may have had time to lay larvae that you didn’t notice when you collected them.
Colorado potato beetle traps
This “bait” will help you save time when collecting insects from the bed. Take a liter jar and put chopped potato tubers in it. Bury it between the rows, so that the top of the jar remains above the bed. Brush the edges of the jar with potato juice. The bugs will come crawling to the flavor, fall into the jar, and won’t be able to get out of it.
Mustard against the Colorado potato beetle
Mustard is an affordable and simple repellent that can be used to control a variety of insects. Most often, it is used to prepare solutions:
- 100 g of dry mustard per 10 liters of water + 100 ml of 9% vinegar;
- 100 grams of dry mustard per 1 liter of water + laundry soap.
Alternatively, you can simply plant mustard next to the potato beds, and after flowering, mow and spread next to it.
Onions and garlic
The most effective is considered an infusion of onion peels and garlic. It is made simply: 200 g of onion peels and crushed garlic heads, pour 10 liters of water and boil over low heat for 2 hours. When ready strain the broth and add water so that it was 10 liters. In the end, add 10 grams of grated laundry soap.
IMPORTANT: This solution will help only in the early stages of potato ripening when there are few insects.
Juniper, wormwood, and celandine
Experienced gardeners know that the Colorado potato beetle is afraid of the smell of juniper, so they plant sprouts of this grass directly into the holes with potatoes. If you have a ripe harvest, then prepare a solution: pour a bunch of juniper shoots in 10 liters of water, insist 3-4 hours, strain and spray the bushes.
Junipers will also help against insects on tomatoes and eggplants.
Celandine is an even more effective remedy, as it not only kills adult bugs and larvae but also scares away those that are just about to visit your plants. Celandine can be used in two ways:
- laying the plant between the rows with potatoes;
- Prepare a decoction: put the shoots in a bucket, pour 10 liters of water, boil for 15-20 minutes, cool, strain, dilute 500 ml of infusion in a bucket of water and spray the garden.
Chipotle will rid your crop of the Colorado potato beetle for 2 weeks.
Tincture of wormwood is often used by gardeners in the process of pest control. The most effective remedy is considered a solution:
- 400 g of wormwood;
- 10 pods of hot red pepper;
- 100 g of garlic leaves;
- 100 g of celandine.
Pour the above ingredients into 10 liters of boiling water, leave for 10-12 hours, and use to spray the plants.
Sawdust against the Colorado potato beetle
Another folk remedy – is ordinary sawdust, which remains after construction work or is freely sold in stores. Use them as mulch, 2-3 times a month, spreading them between beds with potatoes. If it rains, do not wait for the right date, but mulch the soil immediately – so you will have a stronger smell of wood, which repels insects. Wood sawdust is not only a good remedy against Colorado potato beetles or weeds but also a budget fertilizer for the beds.
