- This topic has 3 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 6 months ago by .
-
Posts
-
-
Michelle Babcock
What is the best way to get rid of the little black bugs and small flies that seem to like to hang out on herbs like calendula, gumweed, and even camomile? It seems like no matter where or when I harvest, these plants have pesky little bugs. I’ve tried laying the blossoms out to dry for a couple of days before bringing them inside, but we often get strong, dusty winds. I’ve also rinsed the calendula and gumweed. I’m relatively new to actually gathering and using the herbs in my flower bed and wild ones near me. Thanks for the advice. Sorry if it’s already covered somewhere, but I am just getting going and wanted to gather and dry flowers while I can.
-
Joelle
On our homestead, we sometimes get bugs in our produce. I think one of the more effective treatments is to soak the veggies in water that has salt in it. The littler troublesome bugs seem to find that they aren’t salt-water fish and so they let go often. We use this mostly for aphids and little caterpillars and millipedes but I think it would be worth a try for your application.
1 user thanked author for this post.
-
Theresa Gwiazda
I have read/heard that you can also use a little bit of vinegar to kill bugs on plants. When you bring them in just fill a bowl with water and add a spoon of vinegar to the water and it kills the little buggers!
-
ABig FatHen
Hi Michelle,
It’s funny, when I tell friends that I don’t like little bugs in my medicine or food they laugh at me and say, “It’s just a little extra protein.” Yuck. So, I feel your question deeply.
I’m a fellow traveler, but I’ll tell you what I’ve found so far.
- Find a place to let them dry naturally. If that means in the garage with a small fan, create a vented/covered shelving unit to leave outside, weighing them down, or whatever, drying those flowered plants seems to do the trick. The bugs don’t like the flowers dry and they’ll leave on their own accord.
- For other plants where the bugs don’t seem to mind the dried vegetation as much, google kosher preserving techniques. Bugs on food/herbs are not kosher and they have some great ideas to help.
If you come up with some tips on this, I’d LOVE to learn from you, too. It’s nice to find someone who isn’t fond of extra protein. 😉
2 users thanked author for this post.
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.