Red pepper spray is a good general insecticide and is especially effective against caterpillars. You’ll have to use this homemade spray more often than a chemical spray, but it’s much gentler on the environment. For your own safety, wear gloves when handling peppers and pepper spray.
Red Pepper Spray Concentrate:
1 unpeeled onion 1 unpeeled head of garlic 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper 3 pints water
1. Chop onion and garlic and combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Simmer 20 minutes. 2. Cool and store in jars in the refrigerator for 6 weeks. 3. Strain and store in jars.
To use, dilute 1 tablespoons of concentrate with 1 pint of water. Add a squirt of dish soap.