Baking Soda: A Gardener’s Best Friend – 10 Ingenious Uses

Baking soda is actually an incredibly versatile household remedy with uses far beyond baking – and some of them can actually be very useful for gardeners! Here are 10 ingenious uses for baking soda in the garden:
Test the soil: To test your soil’s pH, take two separate samples. Add a little vinegar to the first sample. If it foams, your soil is alkaline. Add a little baking soda mixed with water to the second sample. If it foams, your soil is acidic. If there’s no reaction, your soil is probably neutral.

Fight Powdery Mildew: Baking soda can help fight powdery mildew on plants. Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 liter of water and a squirt of dish soap (as a sticking agent). Spray the affected plants, especially the tops and undersides of the leaves. Repeat every few days.
Prevent fungal diseases: A light baking soda solution can also be used preventatively against some fungal diseases. Use the same mixture as for powdery mildew control and spray susceptible plants regularly.
Ant repellant: Sprinkle baking soda around anthills and along ant trails. It should dry out the ants and drive them away.

Keep slugs and caterpillars away: A thin line of baking soda around sensitive plants can deter slugs and caterpillars from eating them. However, make sure the baking soda stays dry and renew it after rain.