A cheap, harmless material that can also be purchased in grocery stores can do surprising things in the garden.
Baking soda can be used in many ways around the house, e.g. as an environmentally friendly cleaning agent. It is also worth knowing that it can also be used during garden work. Sodium hydrogen carbonate (sodium bicarbonate, formerly known as bicarbonate of soda) is a slightly alkaline salt that dissolves well in water. It neutralizes acids and carbon dioxide is released in the process. A byproduct of soda production and other chemical processes. It is environmentally friendly and versatile. It can be purchased at a low price in the household department of grocery stores.
Here are ten effective ways to use baking soda in the garden:
Natural fungicide. Mix 4 teaspoons of baking soda in 4 liters of water. The mixture can be used against black spots on roses and on the fruit and leaves of grapes when clusters begin to appear.
Remedy against powdery mildew. Powdery mildew causes serious problems in gardens in rainy, humid weather. The disease can affect many plants, but it particularly damages zinnia, impatiens, squash and cucumbers. Mix well 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 4 liters of water, 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap, then pour into a hand sprayer. Use it weekly. When applying, avoid sunny, warm hours.
Hand sanitizer after gardening. Wet your hands, then rub off the garden dirt with baking soda. Rinse thoroughly.
Rejuvenation of rose bushes. Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of pure ammonia and 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt in 4 liters of water. This amount is enough to restore the vitality of four struggling bushes.
Herbicide and anti-weed agent. Baking soda sprinkled in the gaps between pavements and paving stones destroys weeds that have sprouted there and prevents the growth of new ones.
Against green foxtail. Sprinkle the green foxtail to be destroyed with a little water, then sprinkle a good amount of baking soda on it. The green foxtail will die within a few days. Make sure it doesn’t get on the surrounding grass!
Agent against cabbage caterpillars. Mix baking soda and flour in equal proportions, then sprinkle the mixture over cabbage, kale and broccoli, which are very attractive to caterpillars. Pests eat the mixture from the leaves and die in 1-2 days. Repeat the procedure as necessary.
Sweetening tomatoes. To make the ripe tomato fruit even sweeter, sprinkle some baking soda around the base of the plants.
Checking soil pH. Wet the soil, then sprinkle some baking soda on it. If the baking soda fizzes, the soil is acidic, with a pH below 5.
Deterring garden pests. Sprinkle the soil of the garden with baking soda. Rabbits, ants, silverfish, cockroaches and their similarly harmful companions will not like it, so they prefer to avoid our garden. Baking soda is also effective when sprinkled directly on slugs. But be careful, do not let it get on the surrounding plants!
This was our top ten list; we welcome comments and tips for further possible uses of baking soda in the garden!
