Mustard is a noble assistant not only in the kitchen, but also in the garden. This plant not only enriches the soil, improving its structure, but is also used to protect various crops from harmful insects. One of these is aphid - The most common pest of gardens. How mustard is used against aphids and how effective it is, this article will tell.
It is no secret to anyone that one of the main reasons for the appearance of aphids on a plant is ants. They literally carry these tiny fleas on themselves, picking up for them new “uninhabited” territories. The thing is that ants are attracted by the pad - the liquid that aphids emit in the process of life. From which the leaves become slightly shiny and sticky to the touch.
Therefore, to get rid of aphids you need, first of all, expel ants. You will find answers to questions about how much mustard is needed, or how to cook mustard to protect beds and trees from pests, in the recipes below.
Dry powder
Dry mustard gives a good result from aphids, ants, slugs and other pests. It is enough to sprinkle the places of accumulation of insects with mustard powder, and the insects will leave this territory.
Infusion
Mustard infusion is another simple and affordable folk remedies, well helping in the fight against harmful insects. It must be prepared as follows: dilute 100 g of mustard powder in 10 l of water. The solution must be infused for at least 24 hours, after which add the same amount of liquid and 1/3 of the bar there chopped laundry soap.
On a note!
Mustard composition should be sprayed with aphids infected trees. Usually, the treatment is carried out 14 days after flowering.
Solutions
You can also remove beds from aphids with a solution. In warm water (10 l) add vinegar and mustard powder (1 tbsp. l. of each ingredient). The solution is thoroughly mixed and used for irrigation of green spaces.
On a note!
When using dry powder, weather conditions do not matter. The use of solutions or infusions in rainy weather will not give proper results.
A solution of mustard with the addition of salt (preferably iodized) has an equally effective effect. It is very simple to make: 100 g of each product (salt and mustard powder) is added to 10 l of water, stirred and used to spray damaged crops.
Suspension
The ambulance for the garden from aphids will be a suspension, which is used to irrigate the trees immediately after preparation. Such a solution will not appeal to pests, either in taste or in smell. In a bucket of water, it is necessary to dissolve 6 tbsp. l dry or liquid (store) mustard. Use the composition in a similar way.
Disembarkation
Aphids, using the juice of plants as food, weakens them. To protect plantings from pests, you need to attract their biological enemies to your site - ladybugs, lacewing. This can be achieved by planting mustard, tansy, dill, clover and other plants. In addition, planting mustard is an excellent fertilizer for the soil: it not only prevents the leaching of minerals, but also contributes to its enrichment with sulfur, phosphorus and nitrogen.Mustard removes soil from fungal infections, prevents the growth of weed plants, and is a good protection against erosion.
Beds with mustard are a favorable precursor for the subsequent planting of crops such as potatoes or tomatoes, the cultivation of which gardeners encounter many problems. The accumulation of mustard oils in the soil prevents the attack of wireworms and other insects.