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The main dream of every gardener is to obtain a good crop that can be stored for a long time. Don’t try to protect your crops only with artificial means. Chemicals from stores are often not safe because some harmful substances get into the vegetables and also into the soil. There is an alternative – use folk remedies. For example, baking soda. You will be pleasantly surprised by what it can help you with. These tips come directly from gardeners.
Baking soda in the garden
Soda can be easily bought in any grocery store. Its range of uses is very wide: it can help in almost every situation.
A tonic for your plants
Dissolve 1 tablespoon of baking soda in two liters of lukewarm water. Water plants such as phlox, sweet peas, or carnations with this mixture from time to time. For these plants, the soda-and-water mixture is literally a tonic.
Helps the grape vine
A common problem for growers is gray rot. Soda helps here. During the ripening of the berries, spray the vine with this solution: dissolve 75 g of soda in 10 liters of water. The plant will not only recover, but the sugar content in the berries will also increase. With a similar solution you can also spray fruit trees and thus fight leaf-eating caterpillars.
For gooseberries and currants
You can help gooseberries and currants against disease and mildew with this solution: 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 tablet of aspirin, 1 teaspoon of any grated bar or liquid soap, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, 4.5 liters of water.
For cucumbers
Cucumbers will also thank you for the help of baking soda. Often the leaves of even young cucumber plants turn yellow and the fruits stop developing properly. This is not premature wilting but a sign of disease. Prepare a solution: 1 tablespoon of baking soda diluted in 10 liters of water. Spray the cucumbers and you will prevent this phenomenon.
Eliminates caterpillars
Soda is also an opponent of powdery mildew, which often attacks cabbage. Dissolve one teaspoon of soda in a liter of warm water and spray the plants with the solution. You can do this every three weeks as a preventive measure; it won’t harm the vegetables—in fact, quite the opposite.
To combat caterpillars, sprinkle cabbage leaves with dry baking soda powder. The larvae will be removed immediately.
There is another proven method to improve cabbage — valerian. Soak valerian root in 3 liters of water and add 1 tablespoon of liquid soap. This solution should be sprayed on the fruits that pests are after.
A month before harvesting heads for storage, it is an excellent practice to spray the heads with an ammonia solution — (40 ml) diluted in a 5-liter bucket of water and add several tablespoons of liquid soap. Cabbage sprayed this way will spoil less and you will be able to store it much longer.
For beautiful geraniums
Geraniums and begonias need alkaline soil pH. That is why they will benefit from a watering containing baking soda. It will create ideal conditions in the soil for growing these ornamental plants. Apply the soda-containing watering to the soil around the plants.
Against slugs and ants
If you are dealing with annoying slugs and ants in spring and summer that are destroying your crops, remember this trick. Sprinkle baking soda around the beds. You will create a natural barrier that pests will not cross. Alternatively, you can sprinkle slugs directly with soda. The soda will dry them out immediately.
Simple soil test
If you want to find out whether your garden has acidic soil, use a simple test with baking soda. Slightly moisten the soil with water and sprinkle baking soda on it. If you see the soil “bubble,” it’s a sign that it is acidic.
Gets rid of mildew
Make a simple homemade fungicide. It’s really simple; you only need water (3 liters) and baking soda (4 tablespoons). Mix and apply with a spray bottle to the affected areas.
Feed for roses
Baking soda will provide nutrition for your roses. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1/2 teaspoon of ammonia and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir this mixture into 3 liters of water. Water the roses with this solution once every 14 days. They will grow and bloom beautifully.
Deals with weeds
Are you annoyed by weeds growing over the sidewalk or paving stones? You can reliably burn them with baking soda. Mix 3–4 tablespoons of baking soda with one liter of water and apply directly to the weeds on the path. We do not recommend using this method to remove weeds in flower beds, as you may damage your plants.
Tomatoes will be sweeter
If you want your tomatoes to have a sweeter taste, sprinkle baking soda on the soil around the tomato plants. Their flavor will improve.
Cut flowers in a vase last longer
If you received cut flowers and want them to last as long as possible: pour 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda into the vase with water. The flowers will remain in perfect condition much longer.
