Zucchini, members of this summer squash familymembers trace their origins to Central and South America. Early explorers took zucchini back to Europe, in which the Italians worked to develop the fruit we’re familiar with today. The popular summer squash has been grown in the USA since the 1920s. Although easy to grow, numerous insect and fungal pests can attack crops. Home sprays are a great solution to prevent and manage these pests.
Common Pests
Homemade pesticide sprays can be used to control issues on zucchini plants, however it is crucial to make one that will be successful against typical summer squash pests. Insects likely to assault a zucchini harvest include aphids, cucumber beetles and spider mites. Besides bugs, fungal disorders can pose a critical issue for home gardeners; in particular, powdery and downy mildew are risks to zucchini plants.
Insecticides
Homemade insect sprays have been created with ingredients commonly found in the kitchen or medication cabinet. For example, to suppress a spider mite infestation to your zucchini plan, a simple spray can be created with water, buttermilk and wheat flour mixed in a spray bottle and shaken. Problems with insects like aphids and cucumber beetles can be efficiently managed with an herbal brew. Allow basil, lavender, mint, rosemary, wormwood or sage to steep at a water-filled jar maintained in sunlight for a few days. Strain, add a drop of liquid soap and shake before spraying. Shaved laundry soap in hot water and then mixed with rubbing alcohol makes another spray helpful for handling aphids. An all-purpose homemade spray to efficiently control most zucchini insect opponents is created using onion, onion, hot peppers, water and liquid soap. After steeping the vegetables in water for an hour, then strain, add 1 tablespoon of this soap and blend well before spraying.
Fungal Deterrents
The kitchen and medication cabinet also house ingredients used to make sprays for preventing and handling fungal disorders in zucchini crops. For example, chamomile is an effective antibacterial and antifungal agent. Only simmer tea or dried chamomile flowers in water for 20 minutes; remove from heat, and permit the chamomile to steep for several hours before straining into a spray bottle. In addition to managing insect issues, garlic can be used to fight fungal infection. Create a garlic soup with pureed garlic and water before adding a small number of liquid soap and transferring to a spray bottle. Powdery mildew is a fungus which can ruin a zucchini harvest but may also be thwarted utilizing a couple homemade sprays. The first is created by dissolving two 325-mg uncoated aspirin pills into 1 gallon of water; the second utilizes water and milk mixed at a nine to one ratio. Both ought to be sprayed on the stems and leaves for maximum efficacy.
Application Tips
Always analyze a homemade pesticide on a single zucchini leaf before spraying the entire plant. To prevent sunburn, crops should be sprayed in the early morning rather than in temperatures over 85F. Home spray components can also irritate eyes, skin and nasal passages; therefore, wear protective gloves and avoid spraying when windy outdoors.
