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If you thought that baking soda has a use only in the kitchen, you are very mistaken. In the garden it is almost indispensable and for a few cents you get perfect nourishment and protection against aphids, caterpillars, or root fungi.
Helps tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers and zucchini.
Many gardeners still use chemical fertilizers or chemical protective sprays against pests in the garden, which subsequently has a negative effect on the quality of the fruits. Meanwhile, ordinary baking soda, which is cheap and safe, serves as a great fertilizer for your plants and at the same time provides an excellent protective function.
Benefits of using baking soda:
- protects plants from microbes and fungi
- helps extend the fruiting period
- improves the taste of the fruits
- helps fight pests and diseases
As you can see, using baking soda in the garden has many advantages without negative side effects.
However, for baking soda to be a useful aid, the correct procedure must be followed. You should also take into account the amounts and intervals of use. Otherwise the result could be the opposite and you could harm the plants.
Follow these rules:
- mix the solution very well until it is smooth
- spray the plants using a sprayer with very small openings
- apply the spray in the evening so that the sun’s rays do not dry the moisture on the leaves and cause their burning
- even with a baking soda spray you should not overdo it and the minimum interval between treatments should be at least 3 days.
- fertilizer
We need:
- 10 l of hot water
- 2 tbsp baking soda (1 tbsp = 25 g)
Method:
- Add the baking soda to the water and stir well until it is completely and evenly dissolved. Let it cool to room temperature.
- Water the crops at the root – about 500 ml per plant.
- For better effectiveness, first water the soil with plain water.
This solution used during the flowering period stimulates fruiting and if the soil is excessively wet, the fertilizer will help you avoid root rot. This mixture is also recommended for gardeners who grow their crops on acidic soil, because the bicarbonate neutralizes acidity. It is excellent for tomatoes or cucumbers.
Recipes against diseases and pests
Against mildew
Mildew affects many crops and thanks to baking soda you can successfully fight this problem.
We need:
- 50 g baking soda (2 tbsp)
- 40 g laundry soap
- hot water
- 10 l water
Procedure:
- Grate the soap on a grater and completely dissolve it in hot water.
- Then dilute the solution with 10 liters of water, add the baking soda and stir.
- Pour the solution into a sprayer and spray the leaves, especially in those parts that are most affected by mildew.
- If the plants are not in serious condition, usually one spray is sufficient.
- If that is not enough, repeat it at intervals of 3 days until the mildew disappears.
Against aphids
This small insect is a catastrophe for gardeners. They settle on the undersides of leaves and suck the sap from them, which results in drying and death of the plant. If you want to get rid of them, try this solution.
We need:
- 2 tbsp baking soda
- 40 g laundry soap
- 1 l of hot water
- 2 tbsp wood ash
- 10 l water
Procedure:
- Add the ash to a bowl with 1 l of warm water and let it infuse with regular stirring.
- Add the baking soda, the soap and dilute with 10 liters of water.
- Stir and spray onto the leaves.
Baking soda is truly a great helper in the garden!
