Sorry, mind was wandering and I was thinking about another spray. OOPS! Neem oil, only 1 Tablespoon.

Can you use this on new plants?

I only used it on established plants, collards, mustards, turnips, tomatoes, and other pepper plants. After spring had set in, we went through a longer dry spell with no wind than normal. The plants got seriously infested with small green caterpillers, and aphids and in some cases, spider mites. Three treatments with this knocked em the heck out. Then the rains came back, windier too. The plants were just past the seedling stage, so they were if I remember6-10" in heighth, atleast the brassicas were. In a weaker solution and hand sprayed I think it wouldn't harm the plants tho. Good luck TiMo

Companion planting can do much to deter insect problems. I imagine your recipe did a good job on those spider mites. I certainly had a hard time getting rid of those. I think planting a lot of marigolds and chrysanthemums ultimately caused the mites in my garden to go away.

Radish and nasturtiums are supposed to be good for keeping borer type insects out of the vegetable plot. I planted Santolina bushes in my strawberry bed. Haven't had a beetle infestation since.

I use simple dish soap (not antibacterial soap) to get rid of any serious infestation of aphids. I make up a bucket of soapy water and douse plants, making sure to get the undersides of the leaves. I prefer the bucket method instead of spraying, because it is a very direct attack on the problem. I don't want to kill off any of the beneficial insects I have in my garden, which are green lace wings, ladybugs and preying mantis. Spiders are beneficial in the garden because they eat insects. Some types of wasps can be helpful, such as umbrella wasps.

A bird feeder in the vicinity of caterpillar problems would draw birds to notice and feed on the caterpillars. I use large, deep plant saucers of birdseed, which I place on the ground. I don't fill the saucers very full so the birds aren't likely to scatter the seed outside of the saucers.

Since it is very easy to wash aphids off plants with a sharp stream of water I doubt that you need to mix all that together into a general spray. As a part of a total Integrated Pest Management program that spray might, possibly, have some use, but since someone (and all organic gardeners should) practicing IPM will use more pest specific sprays, only when necessary, this would be too general for use.

I agree with you kimmsr, but was going to be too tied up for a while and wanted to knock the problem out fast. I had not done any companion planting yet, but will this year. Lorna- I do notice that the sparrows get into the garden later in the summer and feast off of the insects - every day. I will be planting dill this year to keep ladybugs present and putting mantis egg sacks in as well. TiMo