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Molasses: Jekyll to You, Hyde to Pests.

August 23, 2011 by fifthseason 2 Comments

Farmers and gardeners have always been on the holy grail quest for the growing savior. Growers for eons have searched for the sole silver bullet that will rid them of the insufferable onslaught of fiendish bugs, megolomaniacal weeds, and microscopic diseases. While end-all cure are fallacies, there is new (and not so new) research that molasses can bring alleviation to many dire garden situations.

 

Mmm. Delicious pest control.

 

Most of us grew up touting the sweet tooth benefits of this thick goodness. Now, the champion of the tastebuds can alter the way we practice our garden methods.

Check it out:

  • Feeding the little guys
Molasses can be added with regular fertilizer nutrition to bolster microbial activity. It creates a large amount of carbohydrates (sugars) into the soil. Microbes descend on the sugars like carrion crows, breaking them down rapidly. The molasses boost creates a massive amount of energy, leading to metropolises of  microbes. These microscopic cities allow the plants to break down nutrients more efficiently.

It’s important to note that any addition of molasses to the soil should be of the UNSULFURED variety. Molasses with sulfur can do damage to soil biology.

  • Adding Science to the Soil
Molasses is also known as a superior chelater, which means it can take a nutrient in the soil and make it more readily available to the plant. In addition, micronutrients like carbon and  potash found in molasses can lead to higher yields in the garden.
  • Breaking the Will of Fungi, Insects and Stubborn Compost Piles

Fungi and insects of ill repute have learned to fear the sugar. Insecticides containing molasses can deter soft bodied pests like aphids. There are also reports (specifically from a company called Garden Ville) that a mixture of water and molasses will drive fire ants away as well as root knot nematodes. Vinegar fungicides containing apple cider vinegar and molasses have been known to deter bad fungi.

Finally, mountainous compost piles requiring Sherpa-esque exploration can be shrunk to size with the addition of dried molasses (made from Blackstrap molasses sprayed and dried on grain flour roughage).

Mt. Compost will soon have a new nemesis.

 

  • Environmental Champion

    From Natural News, there is new research by the USDA suggesting that molasses could replace the highly toxic fumigant, methyl bromide, as an herbicide. Researchers in Florida incorporated the use of molasses and poultry litter in the soil and covered the area with plastic tarps to suppress weeds and pest emergence. The end results compared evenly with the effectiveness of methyl bromide. Hopefully, this trend will catch on worldwide.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Organic Gardening Tagged With: aphids, Chelate, Fire Ant Control, Methyl Bromide, Molasses, Potash, Root Knot Nematode, Soil Microbes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Richard Blocker says

    May 7, 2016 at 7:43 am

    Thanks for the info about molasses it was helpful! I’m in San Antonio so I know Malcolm Beck at Gardenville for at least 25 years he’s a world of knowledge! I’m using liquid seaweed and molasses on my tomatoes it’s good for the plant,I’m staying them weekly! I already am getting white fly on them? What I want to know does Liquid Seaweed and Molasses kill bugs? I’m determined to not have bugs on the plants this year! Especially squash bugs! What organic bug killer would you recommend using for these bugs on my tomatoes? I’ve used Palmolive soap and water on my cactus to kill squash bugs, do you think I could use this on my tomatoes? Thanks Richard Blocker

  2. Scott Fisher says

    February 13, 2017 at 12:12 pm

    I never knew you could do this. I have a lot of work to get done now thank you!

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