I am starting a garden this fall with berry bushes and leafy greens. I have been doing a bunch of reasearch because I have never had a garden before and some of my plants are prone to bugs and fungus. I want my garden to be as organic as possible so I don't want chemical spray. Anyone know any good homemade concoctions I can make to help? Thanks =D
I will just name one product: neem. It is good for controlling some fungal diseases and many insects. You can buy it at places like Home Depot. It's usually packaged as a spray with a name that indicates it's uses, not as neem. Just look at the active ingredients, and it should say 70% neem oil. It is approved for organic production. Make sure it is labeled for your crops.
Fungi are encouraged by too much water and inadequate air circulation. Allow plenty of breathing room between plants and row. Put mulch down around the plants. We use newspapers (5-6 sheets thick) and composted grass clippings. Will act as a weed barrier AND keep the moisture in the soil and will offer some protection for the plants/veggies. Feed the birds, encourage them to live in your yard with food, water and places to live. Nearly all baby birds are fed on bugs and many species eat bugs right along with the seeds. And some only eat bugs. The more birds, the better! They will do the dirty work for you! And the link below will help you deal with issues as they come up.
