For years, summer residents have been looking for a way to kill insects without using chemicals. Some gardeners use fragrant tobacco against the Colorado potato beetle. It is used in different ways: by planting the plant itself or preparing a pest control product using crushed plant matter or dust.
The degree of harm from the Colorado potato beetle
It's no secret that these insects are capable of destroying a huge number of plantings. They destroy 100% of the harvest if the process of their reproduction is left to chance.Then, developing endlessly, they will very quickly eat all the seedlings. In this case, the loss will be substantial.
1 insect eats 100 mg of plant mass per day.
The beetles live on the lower leaves, and the larvae are laid on the back of the leaf. Therefore, they cannot be immediately noticed. Most often, potatoes suffer from his attacks. The plant is most vulnerable during flowering, when a massive hatch of larvae is observed.
The plant and its properties
Fragrant tobacco annual, its homeland is South America. Plant height is 50-90 cm. The leaves are large, the flowers are small, red, yellow and white. It has a strong aroma that intensifies in the evening. The beetle is attracted by the smell of the plant and begins to eat it. But the poison contained in it kills the insect.
The method was discovered by Bazhenov. For 10 years, he persistently searched for a way to combat insects without the use of chemicals. In his numerous observations, he realized that if tobacco grows next to potatoes, the Colorado potato beetle will fly to it. After particles of fragrant tobacco get inside, after a while the pest dies.
The summer resident needs to prepare for the fact that pests from all neighboring areas will flock to his plot. It is important when using this method not to give up everything in the first year. The result will be noticeable only for 3 years. An infusion of leaves is used to combat other insects that harm the garden.
Methods of using tobacco
To combat the Colorado potato beetle, several methods are used:
- Planting plants in potato beds.
- Preparing the base for spraying bushes.
- Infusions from leaves.
In order to understand how fragrant tobacco works against the Colorado potato beetle, it is necessary to consider each of them in detail.
Growing plant seedlings
The peculiarity of fighting this method is that it is necessary to grow tobacco seedlings before planting it in the ground. Summer residents have repeatedly proven that seeds are eaten directly in the ground, without even allowing the plant to sprout. Therefore, it is important to plant ready-made plants.
Growing fragrant tobacco seedlings. The first stage is preparing the soil; those who do not have the opportunity to prepare it themselves can purchase it at the store. Those who want to save money prepare it at home. To do this take:
- 1 part peat.
- 1 part humus
- 3 parts of ordinary land.
Seeds are sown in early February. A day in advance, wrap it in a damp cloth so that the planting material swells. Then scatter the seeds and cover them with 5 mm of dry soil and cover with polyethylene. Keep the pot at a constant temperature of +20-25 ⁰C until germination.
After the sprouts appear, when the soil begins to dry out, spray it with a spray bottle. When the 3rd true leaf is formed, it is recommended to pick. When the plants reach a height of 13-15 cm, they are transferred to a permanent location. But at the same time, the earth must be warmed up to +15 ⁰С.
Fragrant tobacco easily tolerates proximity to any crop, flowers and all garden plants.
When transferring to the ground, it is advisable to preserve the lump of earth in which it grew.
How to plant fragrant tobacco?
The first year, plants are planted along the edge of the beds, or along the entire perimeter at a distance of 1 m. Planted in advance, around April. This is done so that Colorado potato beetles do not have time to lay larvae. If the summer resident is late with planting, it will be more difficult to fight, because the larvae do not eat tobacco and they will also need to be destroyed in some way.
If there are a lot of pests on the site, then it will take more than 1 year to fight it. If the beetle eats all the fragrant tobacco plants, it is necessary to plant again. The effect will still be there.
Advantages of the Bazhenov method
There are skeptics in every business. Likewise, Bazhenov’s method is subject to refutation by those who have not even tried to plant tobacco on their plots.
This method of pest protection has a number of advantages:
- Easy method. You will have to work hard growing seedlings and planting them in a permanent place.
- Low cost.
- The area is not treated with chemicals, meaning the harm to humans is minimal.
- From the outside it looks very nice.
- According to reviews, the method is effective.
To clearly understand the strengths and weaknesses of Bazhenov’s method, it is recommended to first plant several bushes for testing.
Preparation of tobacco dust
The plant is suitable for preparing a special product for treating plants against insect pests. The fragrant tobacco is dried, the whole plant, stems and leaves are suitable. To do this, it is tied into bundles and hung in a well-ventilated area in the shade. When the leaves begin to crunch, they are crushed. After the dust is ready, a special solution of the following composition is prepared from it:
- 0.5 kg of dust.
- Laundry soap 40 g.
- Water 20 l.
Use the solution for spraying cultivated plants and flowers. This product is purchased in stores.
To treat potatoes with tobacco dust, do the following:
- Soak the dust in 10 liters of warm water for 2 days.
- Strain.
- Add water and soap.
Potato plantings are treated to repel insects and preserve the harvest.The advantages of this processing method are that it is environmentally friendly and does not accumulate harmful substances in root crops. It is harmless to humans and beneficial insects. The disadvantage is that a large number of sprayings are required per season.
Opinion of summer residents who tried this method of processing potato beds
To get more detailed information, a novice vegetable grower is looking for reviews from experienced gardeners. Some give specific advice and recommendations for pest control.
Ivan: “I’ve been gardening for a long time. I have been using tobacco against the Colorado potato beetle for a long time. My recipe is simple: I soak 4-5 fragrant tobacco plants in water for several days. I strain it, add liquid soap, and the poison is ready. In our region, the plant grows by self-sowing, so there is no need to look for it. I process it once every 2 weeks. It affects both the beetle and the larvae.”
Irina: “We decided to try this method last year and planted tobacco on the plot. Not to say that the result is excellent, but still there is a difference. There are fewer beetles."
Bazhenov himself speaks about this method like this: “You need to have strong nerves. Plant only mature seedlings. This is not a whim, but a necessity. Insects eat the seeds directly in the soil, preventing them from germinating. On our site, the first plant that grew by self-sowing appeared a few years later.”
The fight against the Colorado potato beetle is a problematic matter. Most of all, the summer resident wants to use less chemicals, so it’s worth trying to plant fragrant tobacco. If everything works out, the pest will stop bothering you.
