Garlic Spray

• Garlic spray is a natural insecticide and fungicide. Its antibacterial, antifungal, and insect-repellent properties make it an effective spray to deter pests and powdery mildew.  As a foliage spray, it is effective against aphids, whiteflies, leafhoppers, bean beetles, cabbage worms, spider mites, slugs, moths (including the diamondback moth), ants, and termites. If used as a soil treatment, garlic water is a recognized treatment for nematodes and fungus gnats.
• It is recommended to spray in early evening. This way your plants are dry and there is a greater likelihood that the insects you want to get rid of will be out in full force. Just use a standard spray bottle and coat the vegetation of your plants as evenly as you can.
• Garlic spray is a broad spectrum pesticide, so spray only the parts of the plants that are infested so you lessen the risk of harming any beneficial insects. Another way of using garlic for pest control is to intercrop with it. That just means planting garlic among other crops.
• The following recipe is taken from www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk
• Peel the cloves from a whole head of garlic and put in a food processor or blender with 235 ml. (1 cup) of water. Purée the mixture (this takes about a minute in a regular food processor). Alternatively, chop or crush the cloves as finely as you can by hand and mix well with the water.
• Add a further 700 ml. (5 cups) of water to the mix, along with 30 ml. (2 Tblsp.) of any liquid soap. Blend again and then transfer to a clean jar.
• Leave the mixture to steep overnight, or for at least 12 hours, so that the garlic can infuse the liquid with its potent sulphur compounds.
• Once the mixture has had time to steep, strain it through a muslin cloth or fine mesh strainer to remove the solid garlic pieces (which would otherwise clog the nozzle on your spray bottle).
• Pour the garlic-infused liquid into a reusable spray bottle and store in the fridge between uses.
• Spritz plants in the evening, holding the spray about 15-30 cm. (6 – 12 in.)  away from the foliage, and cover both sides of the leaves with an even coating of the garlic pesticide spray. Reapply every few days (and after any rainfall) when your plants are suffering with an infestation, or once a week as a deterrent.