by Sherry Horton Blake

Created on: February 18, 2010

Three years ago my husband and I bought 32 acres in rural Oklahoma.  The land was completely undeveloped.  The very first thing we did was to put up an eight foot fence to keep the deer out around a large area where we planned to plant a garden.  Since the land had not been used previously for growing (in fact, it had been the site of an old school), we thought it would be a great place to grow organically.  I planted my garden before our house was even built, and we have continued with a garden every year. 

Organic gardening is healthier for both people and the environment, but when gardening organically, the problem of pest control always arises.  How are you going to keep insects from eating your vegetables without the use of chemicals?  I have found this to not be nearly as difficult a task as I had first imagined it would be.  Discovering the secret of  companion planting helped me immensely in controlling pests.  Companion planting is a method of growing certain plants together that benefit each other by offering each other protection.  For example, if you plant garlic with tomatoes, it will keep away spider mites.  There are many sites that provide a guide for companion planting, i.e.  (http://www.ext.nodak.edu/county/cass/horticulture/ve getables/companion.htm ). 

I especially find it helpful to grow herbs with my vegetables.  For example, oregano planted near my cabbages repels the cabbage butterfly.  Wormwood is a good deterrent to snails, plus it can be made into an effective pest control spray by simmering the leaves, straining the mixture and adding a few tablespoons of dishwashing liquid.

It is important to realize that pests attack, for the most part, unhealthy plants.  Therefore, it is best to start with a healthy, organic soil.  It is also important to rotate  your crops each year.  Watering your plants early in the day to ensure the foliage is dry most of the day also helps. 

Attracting  helpful bugs to your garden (i.e. ladybugs, lacewings, praying mantis) will help to keep down the populations of harmful bugs.  You can attract them by planting dill, fennel, chicory, endive, cumin and as many flowering perennials as possible. 

Sometimes you just have to pick off pests by hand.  For example, when dealing with caterpillars, handpicking is the most effective method.  You will have to do this several times a week.  Japanese beetles can be handpicked in the early morning.  Be sure to drown them in a bucket of soapy water.  For aphids, just drench your plants with a strong spray of water from your hose. 

It is possible to make your own insect sprays to repel pests in your garden.  One of my favorites is a garlic oil spray which you can make by putting three or four cloves of minced garlic into two teaspoons of mineral oil.  Allow it to sit overnight, and then strain the garlic out.  Put the leftover oil in a pint of water to which you have added a teaspoon of dish soap.  This mixture can be stored in a jar until needed.  Before using it, dilute it by putting two tablespoons of your mixture into one pint of water.  Put it in a spray bottle, and you have a very effective insect spray.  However, be sure to apply it carefully as it can also kill your helpful insects. 

It may seem like a lot of trouble to garden organically, but I can assure you that the benefits far outweigh the trouble.  You will produce exceptionally nutritious food for your table while safeguarding the environment.

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