Best organic pesticide?

[chicken]

Of those who garden organically which pesticide do you like the best, which is most effective.? I have a Gardens Alive catalog and a few sound good but if I'm going to spend the money I would like someone who has used them to give me their opinion. I prefer one insecticide verses one for each bug.

[Twogun]

I use Bt and DE the most.

[Twogun]

Oh, and chickens work good, too.

[moonwolf]

When I HAD to use pesiticides for potato beetles especially, I used rotenone powder.

Most organic methods done properly with use of rotation, companion plantings, and such will alleviate many pest problems before they start. I've used Bt with limited success. A natural made conconction of mixing in a blender garlic, hot pepper seeds, and water. Stain into a spray bottle for use.
Plain dishwashing soap in a ratio of 1:40 in water is amazingly good use for spraying under the leafs for a lot of pest bugs, and just reaply when needed as it's quite safe.

[Rockin'B]

BT is a natural parasite for catepillers, such as the green ones left from the white moths that seem to love broccoli and cauliflower so much. It works very well.
It is not effective for bugs like cucumber beetles etc.

[kidsngarden]

I have chickens, and about two months ago reluctantly got ducks because my hubby really wanted them. We've lost four of the six to predators, but the two that are left have virtually eliminated my slug population! Haven't seen one in 2 or three weeks and I live in WA state - slug capitol of the world.

I don't let them in the garden, but they free range around it. I'm sold!

kids

[WisJim]

We use BT for cabbage butterfly larva, and the BT made for potato bugs if they get really bad. I have used a liquid rotenone/pyrethrin mix if the squash bugs or cuke beetles get out of hand, but don't like to use it if I can get by without it. I use dish soap solution on box elder bug nymphs when they start eating the blueberries.

[mistletoad]

We use floating row covers, chickens and our fingers to pick off any nasties that get past the first two.
We also have a healthy population of toads, frogs, turtles, ladybugs, parasitic wasps and praying mantises. and spiders.

[Pony]

Originally Posted by Twogun

I use Bt and DE the most.

I've been using DE to great effect in my garden this year, but in another thread, someone said that they kill off earthworms.

I have read that they don't kill earthworms.

What's your experience been?

Thanks,
Pony!

[Twogun]

I couldn't say for sure,but I have plenty of earthworms (I mulch heavy). They say DE only works when dry; seeing as how earthworms are so slimey, maybe it dosen't affect them as bad. Pure speculation on my part.

[marvella]

i've been using pyola from gardens alive for several years now, with excellent results. one bottle lasts a very long time.

[chicken]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I think I'll give the Pyola a try and the dishsoap too. Anymore input is always welcomed too.

[Randy Rooster]

Is neem oil any good?

[Spinner]

Some of the things I remember my parents using when I was young is:

Tobacco tea - (tobacco is a pesticide) Ask a friend who smokes to save their butts in a coffee can for you. Take the tobacco out of the cigarette butts and put it in water. Let it soak for a few days to make the tea. Strain it then spray the tea on the plants.

dish soap in water sprayed on plants. The soap is actually good for the plants. I haven't used this for many years, so it's safe with older soaps like Ivory, but don't use the newer types like Dawn that have the disinfect in it. The newer types would kill the plants along with the pests.

[Chas in Me]

Originally Posted by Spinner

Some of the things I remember my parents using when I was young is:

Tobacco tea - (tobacco is a pesticide) Ask a friend who smokes to save their butts in a coffee can for you. Take the tobacco out of the cigarette butts and put it in water. Let it soak for a few days to make the tea. Strain it then spray the tea on the plants.

dish soap in water sprayed on plants. The soap is actually good for the plants. I haven't used this for many years, so it's safe with older soaps like Ivory, but don't use the newer types like Dawn that have the disinfect in it. The newer types would kill the plants along with the pests.

Be careful with tobacco, it will kill certain plants like tomatoes.

[labrat]

I ran into a product by pure luck. . . Greenlight Bioganic Organic Insect Control

http://agorganics.com/products/Bioga...ght/12/97.html

I also have this link for reference.

http://everest.ento.vt.edu/~idlab/ve...anic.ctrl.html

[Pony]

Originally Posted by labrat

I ran into a product by pure luck. . . Greenlight Bioganic Organic Insect Control

http://agorganics.com/products/Bioga...ght/12/97.html

I also have this link for reference.

http://everest.ento.vt.edu/~idlab/ve...anic.ctrl.html

This is a non-selective pesticide. Will it harm beneficials, like bees, ladybugs, wasps, and worms?

I just shot the company an email to ask.

Pony!

[woodspirit]

Originally Posted by Rockin'B

BT is a natural parasite for catepillers

It is a bacteria actually. Not a parasite. It works by preventing any caterpillar who ingests it from developing into its next life stage. They will stop eating after a week and die in two to three weeks. As for selective insecticides, I really can't think of any that won't kill bees or other "beneficials" besides Bacillus Th.

[labrat]

Originally Posted by Pony

This is a non-selective pesticide. Will it harm beneficials, like bees, ladybugs, wasps, and worms?

I just shot the company an email to ask.

Pony!

I haven't notice anything yet; my biggest problem is Japanese beetles, so I set out traps and knock them off the grape leaves into buckets of soapy water.

[vicki in NW OH]

Originally Posted by Randy Rooster

Is neem oil any good?

Neem is good for repeling Japanese beetles.