Home Gardeners

Baking soda often called “Miracle Powder” due to its wide variety of uses. It is more productive on stems of fruits and vegetables.Baking soda in the garden often used as various green cleaning techniques. It acts as a wonderful natural cleaner in your home and health to gardening.

Gardeners often face the dilemma of controlling pests without the use of harsh and dangerous chemicals. Baking soda can be used as end-product instead of yeast. It is a chemical agent which is a mixture of carbonate/bicarbonate and acid. This is safe, inexpensive, environmental friendly lifesaver. It helps to prevent fungal spores in plants and has major applications in cooking, cosmetics and for the maintenance of the house. It is an effective antacid to relieve skin irritation, heartburns and can polish your teeth.

Baking soda in the garden can be used as follows.

• As a pesticide
• Gives boost to Plant Growth
• To test pH of garden soil
• Clean garden furniture
• As natural fungicide
• Make tomatoes sweeter
• Prevents mildew on leaves
• As a pot cleaner
• Clean fruits and vegetables
• Keep soil fresher
• Kill cabbage worms

Baking soda as a pesticide

Generally, pesticides are used to control pests or weeds such as scales, spider mites, and aphids. Baking soda as a pesticide protects plants from bugs and keeps them away.

Prepare organic pesticide spray that can kill harmful insects. For this take 4 teaspoons of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of mild soap (biodegradable) and a gallon of water. Mix all the ingredients, keep agitated and spray it on plants. It completely removes black spots and white powdery mildew in plants.

Gives boost to Plant growth

To grow plants in hygienic condition and in a well-defined manner we make use of baking soda as a byproduct. Take 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt, 1 teaspoon of baking soda and (1/2) teaspoon of ammonia in a gallon of water. Mix the solution and apply it to plants. It acts as a fertilizer to the plants that are looking dull and growing slowly will boost up with rapid growth.

Test pH of garden soil

Knowing pH of the soil is essential for understanding whether the soil is rich in minerals or not. You can lower the alkalinity of the soil by adding organic materials like pine needles, peat moss, and composted leaves. To test the pH of garden soil we can use baking soda. The procedure to test the pH of garden soil using baking soda is to

• Take (1/2) cup of baking soda and (1/2) cup of vinegar and collect sample soil in a container from different areas of the garden.
• Pour vinegar into the sample soil, if you find bubbles in soil then it is alkaline in nature and pH value is above 7.
• If not pour baking soda mixed with water in another sample and if soil bubbles it is acidic in nature and pH value is below 7.
• This method is helpful when you need to make the best decision about plants that can thrive in your soil.

Clean garden furniture

Routine cleanings are the key to keep your outdoor furniture in pristine condition. Using baking soda for garden furniture doesn’t harm your pets as there are no toxic chemicals in it. For stubborn stains, a simple procedure is to sprinkle baking soda on the item you want to clean. Use cotton cloth, lukewarm water to rinse it clean and looks like new.

As natural fungicide

Fungicides are biochemical compounds used to kill fungi or fungal spores. Fungi can cause serious damage in agriculture resulting in critical loss of yield, quality. Plants have chemical defenses to protect themselves against microorganisms. Although plants have self-defense capabilities, we can get better results using baking soda.

Take 3 teaspoons of baking soda in a gallon of warm water and apply it to the plants. This solution will protect plants from powdery mildew, black spot and controls rust and cabbage worms.

Make tomatoes sweeter

To sweeten your tomatoes you need to lower the acidic nature of the soil by making pH of the soil above 7. It can be done by using baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda lightly onto the soil, it will be absorbed into the soil lowering the acidity and makes the tomatoes sweeter.

Test it on one plant before applying on them and if the soil is alkaline in nature you could alter it by adding too much baking soda.

Prevents mildew on leaves

If you see powdery-looking patches on the foliage of your plants there can be chances for powdery mildew fungal disease. It’s very easy to identify because the symptoms are white powdery spots on the leaves and stems of plants.

Baking soda serves best for eliminating mildews on plants. To prevent mildews on leaves you need to spray baking soda/water mixture on the leaves of plants. For this mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil, add few drops of liquid soap and about (1/4) of water in a sprinkle bottle. Spray the solution onto the plants prone to mildew. It is highly effective on rose bushes, flowers, fruit trees.

As pot cleaner

Use baking soda to clean enamel pots. It completely removes the stains on it and appears to be a new one. For this pour baking soda into the pot and add vinegar to it. Rinse it thoroughly till the stains get completely eliminated. The pots will be shiny as new again.

Clean fruits and vegetables

Most fruits and vegetables need to be washed before eating. We rinse them under warm running water. We often use commercial sprays to clean fruits and vegetables. It does not actually remove germs and bacteria. Baking soda is used to clean fruits and vegetables. No other compound is required to clean as baking soda alone can do it. After picking up fruits and vegetables grown in your garden pour baking soda, wipe them. Wash them with warm water. The disinfecting property of baking soda kills bacteria and will no longer withstand it. Now fruits and vegetables are ready to use now.

Keep soil fresher

Using clay pots can keep soil fresher by coating it with a thin layer of baking soda and then adding soil into the pot. If you have acidic soil in garden sprinkle small amounts of baking soda on it that helps to grow more flowers.

Kill cabbage worms

Cabbage worms are one of the worst nightmares for gardeners as they quickly havoc throughout the garden. Baking soda is an effective solution for killing cabbage worms. Mix equal parts of baking soda, flour, and dust on plants like cabbage, broccoli, and kale. Apply the mixture to plant leaves. Cabbage worms usually die in 1 or 2 days. Repeat the process for greater effectiveness.

Precautions

• Use Protective gloves and clothing.
• Avoid spraying on flower stalks and buds.
• Flush eyes with water and consult a doctor if irritation occurs.
• You should always test it on a small part of the plant first to make sure that it will not harm the plant.Make use of baking soda in your garden for various applications. If you have amazing ideas about baking soda, please share your experience with us.

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