I love gardening, but there are some pests I could definitely do without. Even though I use natural methods like companion planting to keep them at bay, some critters just won’t give up on my tasty fruits and veggies.
A great natural way to keep pests out of your garden is by using hot peppers. The heat from the capsaicin in peppers serves as an irritant to mammals and some insects. While hot pepper spray acts more as a deterrent than an insecticide, it can still be effective.
Hot pepper spray won’t kill pests like squash bugs, aphids, or Japanese bean beetles. It might annoy some soft-bodied insects, but it’s not guaranteed to get rid of them. However, it does work well at keeping mammals like rabbits, squirrels, and deer away from the garden. While these animals might look cute, they can wreak havoc on a garden. Hot pepper spray won’t harm them, just deter them.
Adding garlic to the spray boosts its insect-repelling properties. Garlic has been shown to repel pests like aphids, ants, beetles, caterpillars, slugs, and whiteflies.
How to Make Garlic Hot Pepper Pest Spray
Ingredients:
– 6-7 hot peppers (any type will do)
– 1 head of fresh garlic
– 5-quart bucket
– 5 quarts of water
– 3 tablespoons Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Castile Soap
– 3-gallon garden sprayer
– knife
– gloves
Directions:
Watch the video to see how I made this Hot Pepper & Garlic Pest Spray and then continue below to see the full step-by-step photos and written instructions.
Any hot pepper will work for this project. Generally, the hotter the pepper on the Scoville Heat Index, the more effective it will be. I used jalapenos because that’s what I have in my garden right now. Make sure to wear gloves when handling chili peppers, as their capsaicin oils can stay on your skin even after washing and cause irritation.
Chop the hot peppers into small pieces and add them to the bucket. Break apart the head of garlic, chop it into smaller pieces, and add it to the bucket. Pour in enough water to fill the bucket almost to the top, and let it sit overnight (12-24 hours).
Once the mixture has set, strain it through a strainer into a garden sprayer. Add three tablespoons of Castile soap, which will help the spray stick to the plants and also act as an insecticidal soap to help get rid of some insects such as aphids.
How Often to Spray:
Spray the plants as needed, especially after rain, dew, or heavy humidity. When applying your pepper mixture, avoid spraying into the wind.
By following these steps, you can create an effective, natural deterrent to keep your garden safe from pests.
