Plant Doctor Archive

Jeyes Fluid

In Issue 88 you mentioned that you didn't have a recipe for Jeyes Fluid Spray. We have used these hints for many years with great success.

JEYES Fluid can be safely sprayed on all flowers and vegetables at a dilution of one teaspoonful per gallon of water, with the exception of very small seedlings and tender subjects on which a small test should first be made. This treatment acts as an effective deterrent to flying pests such as blackfly, greenfly, carrotfly etc. by disguising their natural plant harbourages. The treatment also assists in preventing the spread of fungus. When spraying under glass, provide proper ventilation and avoid sudden and erratic changes in temperature.

Jeyes Fluid can also be used to sterilize garden soil. This is easily done when digging over in spring. As you dig, soak each row and the trench with a solution of one tablespoon of Jeyes Fluid per gallon of water. Obviously, it is important to see that the solution penetrates well into every particle of the soil, applying at least one gallon of solution to each square yard. The soil can be used as soon as the smell has gone - usually in about two weeks.

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH.