Aphids are every gardener's nightmare. They suck the juices out of plants, carry diseases and reproduce at the speed of light.
Chemicals are effective, but they also kill beneficial insects, and the harvest cannot be eaten for weeks after treatment.
However, there is a method that they won’t tell you about in stores.
All you need is regular garlic and laundry soap.
Grind 200 g of garlic, pour in a liter of water and leave for 24 hours. Strain, add 50 g of grated soap and dilute the mixture in 10 liters of water.
Spray the plants in the evening, and by morning there will be no aphids left.
The soap coats the pests, blocking their breathing, and the garlic repels new insects.
But that's not all. To keep the aphids from coming back, plant marigolds, mint or fennel near your beds. Their scent acts as a natural repellent.
And if you notice ants that carry aphids, sprinkle the soil around the plants with cinnamon or red pepper.
Ants hate strong odors and will leave with their "ladies."
Important: do not use nitrogen fertilizers during the period of aphid attack - they make the leaves more juicy and attractive to pests.
Instead, feed the crops with ash: it contains potassium, which strengthens the cell walls. Aphids will not be able to bite through the tough leaves and will leave your site.
Author: Elena Shimanovskaya