This is a product used for safe natural pest control without pesticides.

It is used for organic farming of blueberries and other crops. Neem is perhaps one of the most important commercially sold products for organic farming. People value this as an insect repellent and natural pesticide. Neem oil is a pure, unformulated oil and is not registered for use as an insecticide, fungicide, or for any specific herbal use. It is claimed to be a large-scale fungicide, insecticide, and acaricide. Neem oil 70% is reported to control many diseases as well as insects and mites, including whitefly and aphid. It can be used for indoor/outdoor use on plants, flowers, vegetables, and shrubs, including blueberry plants.

It is usually light beige to brown in color and has a fairly strong odor. It consists mainly of triglycerides and triterpenoid compounds. It does not like to combine with water (ie it is hydrophobic) and must be made with appropriate compounds, like a soap, that reduce the surface tension of surfactants in water to be combined into an emulsion in water for application.

neem oil source

What is it?

The neem tree is native to eastern India and Burma. Neem seed oil is a product that has been used in India for thousands of years for pest control and medicinal purposes. Neem oil is obtained by crushing the seed of the neem tree. This is achieved by cold pressing the seed of the neem tree while controlling the temperature. A second method used to obtain neem seed oil is by using a solvent for extraction purposes.

neem oil uses

The special mixtures made are widely used as a natural substance to act as an insecticide for organic agriculture. 70% It is effective for numerous diseases, as well as for insects and mites. Repels a wide variety of pests, including foliage-feeding caterpillars that can be a problem for blueberry plants. Other insects include aphids, whiteflies, beetles, beet armyworm, cabbage worm, fungus gnats, Japanese beetle, leafminers, locusts, mites, moth larvae, fungus flies, nematodes, mealybugs floury and thrips. Aphids can also be a problem on blueberry plants. They suck the juices of plants (they feed on sap) and can be controlled using neem oil. Aphids are also often controlled by lady beetles and other natural enemies. Neem oil has not been shown to be harmful to earthworms, mammals, birds, or some helpful insects like butterflies, ladybugs, and bees. It can be used as a household product to destroy, repel or mitigate the common house fly, for cockroaches, ants, bedbugs, mosquitoes, sans fly, snails, termites. Neem oil also controls anthracnose, black spot, powdery mildew, and rust (fungus).

Neem oil affects a wide variety of insects. Their use can be an important part of a way to achieve an integrated insect control strategy. It is an insect bioinhibitor absorbed by pests. It interferes with reproduction and feeding, resulting in a steady reduction of the insect inhabitants. It is biodegradable. My friend used it to get rid of whiteflies in his greenhouse and it solved the problem instantly.

application fees

Mix one teaspoon of neem oil and ½ to 2 teaspoons of liquid soap or other emulsifier to mix well in 1 quart of warm water, or four teaspoons of neem oil and two teaspoons of liquid soap or basic H in 1 gallon of water. Shake well. (If using with lukewarm water to make mixing the Neem oil easier) Make sure the oil is fully emulsified before spraying. If there is oil floating on top, add more soap or emulsifier as needed. Liberally spray the diluted solution on all leaf surfaces. Spraying should be repeated every 7 to 10 days for 4 to 5 weeks if necessary.

An excellent wetting agent to use as an emulsifier is Basic H, a product sold by Shaklee Corporation.

Grow your own pesticide-free crops

You can buy blueberry plants grown without pesticides from a reputable nursery at great prices. The best buy is two-year-old plants. Growing your own blueberries and other pesticide-free crops is smart in terms of your health and pocket savings.

Toxicity

The main active pesticide ingredient in neem oil is azadirachtin. Studies conducted when neem leaves were used to feed male rats in high daily doses for a long time. The results showed that 100% sterility (reversible) resulted. This suggests that you should not take neem if you are trying to conceive or are pregnant. Why take risks if there are unanswered questions?

Where can I buy it?

Some LOWE’s stores carry it.

In Kentucky, Detweiler Country Store in Cub Run, Kentucky runs it.

Neem is distributed in large quantities by:

South West Plantscape Products

(800) 333-7977

southwestplantscape.com

References

Rajeev Seenappa, (2009) Dinkal Agro Inc: Organic for healthy living

Schmutterer, H. (Editor) (2002) The Neem Tree: Source of Unique Natural Products for Integrated Pest Management, Medicine, Industry And Other Purposes (Hardcover), 2nd Edition, Weinheim, Germany: VCH Verlagsgesellschaft ISBN 3-527 -30054 -6