Homemade Garden Pest Control: Jalapeño Juice

I am helping to maintain a local elementary school’s garden. Earlier this week when I was in the school’s garden I noticed several cabbages covered in gray and black splotches. Upon closer examination, I realized the splotches were several hundred aphids. Ugh!

With the garden being on the school grounds, I had to be especially careful not to use anything toxic to the students. I have often used leftover jalapeño juice that comes with pickled jalapeños to prevent insect problems in the garden, so I decided to make a batch to spray on the cabbages.

          It is easy to make this garden pest control spray. I used a clean empty spray bottle. I poured in 12 ounces of jalapeño juice and 4 ounces of water and shook vigorously. I sprayed this jalapeño juice directly on the aphids. By the afternoon, almost most of the aphids were gone.