sunflower follow up

They're alive!  As mentioned here and before that, here.  My sunflowers became some serious snacking for various critters; between the caterpillars, ants, and a rambunctious little ground hog, I had almost thrown in my gardening gloves.  Until I saw this recipe and then modified it a little bit.

Weeks after brewing my Spicy Garlic Tea, and diligently applying it with a paint brush (this concoction is course no matter the amount of super fine straining...it just kept clogging the 4 different spray bottles I used) every time it rained, watering it only for the dirt and the bottoms to get wet... WE HAVE A CROP (or my Bergen Co. NJ version of a crop).

One point for organic! 

Who says you need harmful chemicals to keep away various species!?

What are some home remedies you've made/used to be more environmentally friendly?

Check em!

Deterrent Tea

You can see my previous garden post here, but as you know my sunflowers have been getting chomped on lately.  Unacceptable, but I didn't want to use a pesticide on the sunflowers because I plan on harvesting their delicious seeds.
I researched and found a recipe for an all natural pest-deterrent made from items you may have in your kitchen already.  I altered the ingredients because I was lazy and didn't want to run to the store, but it still works.

Word to the wise, you will need to apply it every 2 days, or more if it's been raining, because it washes away.

  

You'll need..

• Food Processor/ Blender
• A pot with lid
• Spray Bottle
• Bowl
• Spoon
• Fine Strainer/ Cheese cloth
• 7 cups of water
• 3 whole garlics
• 1/2 cup of red pepper flakes
• 2/5 cup of Chile pepper
• 2 Table Spoons of Vegetable oil
• 2 Table Spoons of ALL NATURAL UNSCENTED laundry detergent

1. Peel and chop your garlic using 1 cup of water.
2. Strain the garlic to get as much juice out of it as possible.
3. You might want to process it again after the first round of straining by adding another cup of water and pressing on the strainer with a spoon to juice the garlic.  Set aside juice.
4. Put the garlic remnants aside.
5. Add the Pepper Flakes and Chile Pepper to the remaining 5 cups of water. 
6. Bring the Pepper Tea to a boil, remove from heat, and let stand for 30 minutes.
7. When the Pepper Tea is cool strain it and add it to the garlic juice.
8. Add your strained pepper flakes to your discarded garlic bowl. optional:

   I scattered the discarded pepper flakes and garlic around my sunflower garden to emphasize the smell.  It didn't look so pretty so if you're worried about aesthetics I would skip this part.

   To make this mixture stick to your plants we need to add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons of ALL NATURAL UNSCENTED laundry detergent.  I emphasise all natural and unscented to A. Be okay for the environment B.Not to be scented to attract any critters.
9. Spay frequently ( I spray every 2 days or after it rains)  your mixture will coat the plant with a reddish tint. 

SOME FAQs
Will it make my produce/seeds spicy?
No (unfortunately) it will not, it washes right off.
Will it stain?
It will stain your clothes, I sprayed this mixture on my strawberry plants (with white flowers) and they only a rainshower away from being white again.
Will it harm my young plants?I put it on young seedlings (1-2 inches) and they have been just fine.

FYI- This stuff is spicy, don't rub your eyes!! (before adding the soap/oil) I tried a finger dip, it was HOT for me and I adore spicy...I'm rethinking this as a marinade for hot wings.

UPDATE!

It's been 2 weeks since I applied this mixture and I have noticed that the ants have left my plants alone as well as caterpillars and groundhogs.  I hope the plants bounce back from their chomp!  I have also sprayed the mixture on my strawberries and the squirrels have left them alone too.  I even use them on my tomato plants.

I have begun a replacement crop for my sunflowers on my fire escape/ terrace and plan to replace the badly damaged plants.  I am also going to fence in the sunflower bed, that's one of the next DIYs.

Tending to your garden.

Most who live in this area are spatially challenged.  Take our house for instance.  We share a 3 family house with my fiance and I on the 3rd floor (yes we got engaged, but as I'm reminded frequently not everyone cares/wants to hear wedding talk so I will try to refrain... for now), our neighbours with one toddler on the 2nd, and newly weds on the first. 

Our yard needs the have the ability to accomidate

• BBQs with respective eating and hanging room
• small bonfires (we have a fire pit yes)
• a toddler who likes to play outside
• a garden

....in a very limited space.

Last weekend I began the task of transforming our backyard into a garden.  The obstacles are...

• over coming the ivy/vines that plague but complement at the same time
• not monopolizing too much space in the yard.
• planting hardy plants that can stand to be investigated by a toddler.
• that are sweet smelling but not over powering to draw bees during our gatherings.
• did i mention we have a very small yard... if i had to guess the entire yard is 25x25.

Last year I undertook the task of digging a bed, weeding, pruning/training a wild rose bush that grows on our old iron fence, uprooted invasive saplings, and planted wild flower seedlings that disappointed me by barely growing.  Looking back I will never put seeds directly in ground (even if that's what the package recommended)  I am going to try my thumb at growing, then harvesting sunflowers, but first let me begin. 

The pictures below are from last year. 

This year I have a better idea of what I'm working with and a new goal... 1.To have fresh cuttings fragrant our (and friends') home.  2. To grow my entire bridal bouquet for our summer 2012 wedding.  This weekend I will update this post with new pictures of the yard after I plant (weather permitting, they say rain)... but here is some inspiration.  On our fire escape/porch like last year...I am going to plant herbs (lavender, basil, mint) and tomatoes. Because of the critters hiding in the bushes it's impossible to have anything grow in the yard, my eggplant flowers last year kept disappearing.

Any suggestions out there?

I am going to give seeds one last shot this year by growing Magnificent Sunflowers...

These beauties can reach 12' and be harvested at the end of the season. 

Word to the wise: Last year I grew these in egg crates on the fire escape and everytime I had one sprout there was a respective bird ready to eat it... Out of 30 I ended up having n0 sunflowers... This year, I will protect them with glass or a cage until they are big enough to fend for themselves.