Organic Gardening: Harness the Power of Chilis to Keep Pests Away!

Using chili peppers as a home pesticide is an easy and natural way to deter insects and other animals from your garden, crops and storage areas. It offers a lower cost option than traditional chemical pesticides and does not contain any dangerous chemicals. As with any other substance, use caution when handling chilis.

To use chilis as a pesticide, you’ll want to start out with about 20 chili peppers for every two liters of water. Once you have the peppers, you’ll need to dry them out, either in the sun or with a dehydrator. When you have achieved a good drying level, you’ll need to grind the peppers to a fine dust before adding them to the water. Boil the pepper-water mixture for 20 minutes, and then take the pot off of the stove. Let it cool and add another two liters of water, then strain the mixture through a cheese cloth. To make the pesticide stick to your vegetation without harming it, add some potash soap, which is found in any home or garden store.

Once you have the liquid pesticide, pour it into a spray bottle, and apply it once a week, or twice if there is rain. This will protect your vegetation against insect invasions. If you are storing grains and seeds, you’ll need to make sure that the grains and seeds are completely dry, as the chili powder can cause a change of flavor. Place the whole chili peppers into the storage bags, or grind the peppers up and mix it in with the grains or seeds as another measure of defense.

As a deterrent for other animals such as groundhogs, rabbits, or skunks, you can use the same chili pepper mixture. Sprinkle the chili dust around the vegetation to create a barrier that the animals won’t cross. As soon as the animals get a whiff or a taste, they will be disgusted, even if it doesn’t kill them.

Chili peppers are a great natural alternative to chemical pesticides that can help you save money, and is useful for different types of pests and animals. When using chili peppers as a home pesticide, be sure to take safety precautions like wearing gloves, a mask and safety glasses, and if you have any doubts, do not hesitate to consult with a professional.