Hot Pepper Spray Recipe

How to make pepper spray for plant pests

If your plants are being attacked by pests, one option is to spray your garden with pepper spray.  You can buy it already made but it can be expensive.  Here's how to make your own pepper spray using habaneros peppers.  Remember, spray on the part of the plants your don't intend to eat as it is difficult to remove the "hot" (unless you like hot!)

Pepper spray supplies

Here is the list of items you'll need to make your spray:

• Gloves (an absolute must, it's very hard to get off your hands and can burn your skin)
• Mask (again, if it gets in your eyes it will burn them)
• Five gallon bucket
• Cheese cloth
• Garden sprayer

And here is the list of ingredients:

• 2 cups hot peppers, chopped (habaneros is a good variety)
• 1 tbsp cayenne peper
• 1 head garlic
• 3 tbsp dish liquid soap
• 4 gallons water

Instructions:

• Chop 2 cups of peppers
• Combine peppers, cayenne and garlic in the food processor. Add enough water to puree
• Pour puree into 5 gallon bucket, add 5 gallons of water
• Let sit for 24 hours
• Strain the pureed material from the water through a cheese cloth or fine strainer
• Add the dish liquid soap (will make the liquid stick to the plants better)
• Pour into garden sprayer.

Spraying plants:

• It's best to spray on a windless day, after honey bees have gone back to the hive.
• Don't spray in the heat of the day, wait until evening to avoid burning plants.
• Put on your goggles and cover exposed skin with protective clothing.
• Coat plants well.  Avoid the parts you eat.
• Reapply  every few days.

Hot pepper spray is approved by the EPA as a natural pest deterrent and is an effective alternative to poison. It's available commercially, but it's not that hard to do. Consider making your own to save money.

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Healthy plants and soil

Your first line of defense against pest and disease is healthy plants and soil.  Keep your garden pest free by using certified organic worm castings- they'll encourage beneficial microbes and beneficial insects.