How to use ammonia against the Colorado potato beetle on potatoes

A simple remedy such as ammonia will help get rid of the Colorado potato beetle on potatoes. Constant pest control is a problem for people whose work is related to soil. Insect attack affects the quantity of the crop and its quality. Despite the wide range of preparations for killing insects, experienced summer residents continue to use ammonia and do so with great success.

Why this remedy

The agricultural market is ready to offer a lot of insecticidal preparations. They have an effective effect in the fight against insatiable beetles. However, they pose a danger not only to root crops, but also to the person himself. Because of this, gardeners prefer traditional medicine, one of which is ammonia.

An ammonia solution repels beetles and is also an excellent fertilizer for tubers. As a result, the fight against insects ends in benefit for the plants. The effectiveness of the action lies in the strong and pungent aroma that repels pests. Due to the poor stability of ammonia, the treatment is repeated after 1.5–2 weeks.

How does ammonia work against the Colorado potato beetle on potatoes?

The ammonia solution begins its action immediately after it hits the bush. Its smell is so strong that pests try to leave the bushes as quickly as possible. As a rule, after 5–7 days there will not be a single Colorado potato beetle on the potatoes. Thanks to this effect, ammonia is considered one of the most popular drugs.

Features of application

You can use ammonia against insects using various methods. The solution is carefully applied under the root, which allows you to quickly get rid of the beetle. You can also make homemade traps using ammonia. To do this, take strips of fabric and soak them in the solution.

Ready-made devices are placed between potato beds. The pungent odor spreads throughout the entire plot of land. The Colorado potato beetle smells ammonia and tries not to approach the potatoes. In windy weather the effect increases several times.

Spraying is considered no less effective. To do this, ammonia in the form of a solution is diluted in water. Laundry soap is used as an additional ingredient. Before adding it to the liquid, it must be crushed with a knife or grated.

Thanks to the soap, the mixture with ammonia remains on the leaves for a long time and continues to repel Colorado beetles with its smell. It cannot eat potatoes coated with ammonia and runs away in search of other suitable areas. Egg clutches under the leaves also die over time. This method prevents the emergence of larvae and adults.

How to prepare the solution?

The cooking recipe depends on the method of its use.

Under the bush

You need to take 3-5 tbsp per bucket of water. l. ammonia solution. Stir the liquid thoroughly until all components are combined. Then ammonia is applied to the root. It is necessary to pour at least 0.5 liters under one bush.

Repellent traps

For traps, fabrics from any material are taken. They are cut into even strips and moistened in an ammonia solution - 3% is enough. After the fabric has absorbed a sufficient amount of ammonia, they are distributed between the beds throughout the area. The beetle smells it and runs away.

Spraying plants

Ammonia is diluted in water - 500 ml of substance per 10 liters. There is another option - 50 ml of ammonia per bucket of water. Just before spraying the bushes with beetles, add less than half of the laundry soap. So that it dissolves faster and mixes with the other components, it is crushed.

A good alternative to spraying is watering with a watering can with a wide nozzle. The sprayer works in such a way that most of the liquid evaporates.

When to perform the procedure

The most suitable time to use ammonia solution against the Colorado potato beetle is morning or evening. It is advisable that on the selected days there is no wind or precipitation in the form of rain. The procedure is repeated as necessary if the pest begins to appear on the bushes again. As a rule, 2 to 3 sprays with ammonia solution are carried out per month.

Precautionary measures

Ammonia is characterized by the presence of a sharp, specific odor that beetles do not like. As it turned out, ammonia also has a negative effect on the human body. To avoid poisoning, the solution is prepared outside. The person must wear a respirator all the time while working with the drug.

Ammonia and Coca-Cola against the Colorado potato beetle

In addition to ammonia, there is another remedy that also drives insects away from the beds with lightning speed. We are talking about the popular drink Coca-Cola. One of the ingredients is phosphoric acid - a real poison for parasites. In turn, phosphorus is an important component in the preparation of insecticides. The effect of using an ammonia solution becomes noticeable after 5–8 days.

How to prepare the solution?

There are 2 options for preparing the solution. In this matter, the degree of damage to the vegetable by the Colorado potato beetle plays an important role:

1. If pests have just begun to appear in the beds, they are driven away with a solution of low concentration. In this case, only water and Coca-Cola are taken in equal parts.
2. Moderate or severe damage requires the preparation of a drink with increased concentration. For 5 liters of sweet Cola there is 1 liter of water.

Leaves are sprayed with liquid on both sides. Under no circumstances should you spray on flowers and buds. The drink can be used separately from other ingredients against beetles.If the liquid is prepared on the basis of Coca-Cola and water, the composition should not contain other components, especially ammonia.

Fertilizing potatoes with ammonia

An ammonia-based solution has proven itself to be a good vegetable feed. Contains a large amount of nitrogen. Ammonia solution promotes the formation of chlorophyll. Thanks to this, in cloudy weather, potato bushes will not suffer from a small amount of sunlight.

The need for nitrogen can be determined by the following signs:

• poor shoot growth;
• small leaves with an underdeveloped structure;
• in the lower part the bush is covered with yellowed foliage;
• thin stems.

Nitrogen is a substance that is of great benefit to crops. But in this regard it is necessary to be careful. If you add too much ammonia solution, the effect will be the opposite. The bush becomes more lush, and the tubers decrease in size.

Ammonia also affects their quantity - it decreases.

Other ways to combat the Colorado potato beetle

In addition to ammonia and Coca-Cola, other equally popular traditional medicines are also used. This could be wood ash, onion peel or tar. Urea is considered no less effective. Solutions are prepared from these components or used in pure form.

Prevention against beetle

Recipes for repelling the Colorado potato beetle, which are based on ammonia, have been time-tested. They remain relevant to this day. But this does not mean that one procedure with a solution will help solve the problem with the invasion of beetles. It is necessary to periodically treat potatoes with ammonia to prevent Colorado potato beetles from feeding on them.

Feedback from our readers

Mikhail: “I don’t want to use chemicals, so I risked trying ammonia. Imagine my surprise, the method really works. They will always use only ammonia solution. The only drawback is repeated spraying, as the smell dissipates over time and the Colorado potato beetle returns.”

Alexey: “Every year I am surprised at the condition of the potatoes that grow on my neighbors’ land. They don’t have a single bug, not like I have a whole riot. I decided to find out their secret. It turns out that it's all about ammonia. Now I know the recipe and will try it in my garden.”