Bob3

Tobacco (from both n. tabacum & n. rustica) makes a natural bug spray that's effective on a wide range of critters.

You just cook a bunch down, preferably letting it steep overnight, filter, add a couple drops of mild soap to help "wetting action" and spray down the affected plants.

Nicotiana rustica leaves have a nicotine content as high as 9%, whereas Nicotiana tabacum (common tobacco) leaves contain about 1 to 3%.
The n. tabacum produces much more leaf material but the n. rustica is generally considered easier to grow.
Dried leaves keep very well.

More reading:
Tobacco water - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nicotiana rustica - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



BUGS, eeeek!



Cooking & steeping a batch of dry & green leaves from n. tabacum & n. rustica.


Strain & Filter


Add a couple - few drops of mild soap to enhance wetting action.
Add brew to a spray bottle & douse the plants.
No more bugs! (alive, at least)

Check for tobacco seed at the SEED TRADERS THREAD!

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sunfish

Worked for me

barnetmill

So you need to grow some tobacco to get this process started? One has to do a cost and environmental analysis to know if this is right thing to do. I certainly would like to know more.
How well does it store?
What and how well does it kill?
Is it "environmentally safe"?
How long does it persist?

sunfish

Bob3

Not necessary to grow your own, but at least that way you can select the easiest (N. rustica) and most potent (N. rustica again).
When dried it keeps for years, I usually just brew a batch "as needed" because it lacks preservatives & may start to mold after a couple-few weeks after brewing.

An el-cheapo cigar will do nicely in a pinch 'till you've had time to grow a batch.

It will kill most soft bodied insects shortly upon contact.
"Home gardener" quantities of a gallon or two will have little environmental impact, it does not kill earthworms or bees unless applied directly to them and being a "contact poison", its persistence is negligible.

We have lots of seed here of both cultivars & offer half-grams (about 4000 seeds, +/-) for the price of postage to the forum members here.
Or else you can find it on places like ebay for $3.95 if you feel 45¢ for a stamp is too cheap:
Nicotiana Rustica Aztec Indian Sacred Tobacco Mapacho Rapa Nui 4000 FRESH seeds | eBay

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barnetmill

Wow that is a great offer. How long do the seeds store? This will be a project for next year for me. It would be interesting to see if these will grow for me on my soils.

Bob3

As with most all seeds, germination results will diminish as time rolls on but with the sheer quantity of seeds you're going to be fairly well guaranteed of at least a "modest" crop coming up, even after a couple years, especially if the seed is refrigerated.
In FL you should be able to get several crops per year & after that, a fairly steady supply after your "patch" is established. (about 8-16 square feet is a good start, 32+ sq. ft better; a 4'x8' patch should keep you in bug dope near constantly for average home & "light industrial" use)
Why wait? The stuff is fairly robust, grows in most soils & even survives a light frost so you're in a near perfect climate for the stuff.
Just don't let me catch ya selling N. rustica seed on ebay (unless I get a %).
Wanna apply for a franchise?


Upping the soap content to above 1/4 to 1/2 tsp per gallon widens the "critter coverage" so it'll croak hard shell bugs after a few days.
Again, it's a "contact poison" so ya have to actually hit the offending bugs but at least its safe to use around bees if you're careful.

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barnetmill

Is the address for your business as listed on your webpage correct for sending off the stamp and envelope?
You sure will get a % from any seeds that go to eBay, but not o will not likely be doing since right now I have several other projects I will have to compete first. Starting with catalpa trees and worms that locally can sell for up to a dollar each.

Thanks,

oakshadows

Thread invasion:
"Starting with catalpa trees and worms that locally can sell for up to a dollar each"
barnetmill, now about some info on the worms. Thanks

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sunfish

Bob3

Sounds like Night Crawlers; we used to go picking in the cemetery at night; must have been a lot of "spook sightings" from those dim little lights bobbing & weaving between the headstones.

Yep address on website is probably correct; zip of 95825-0102?
You might be able to get it off "Find me on the Map" link, too, but I'll just shoot you a PM right away.

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