What to do about flea beetles
We have flea beetles on our potatoes, mainly. Last year they destroyed our eggplants, so this year we are waging war against them - non-chemical warfare, of course. So here is what we do:
Flea beetles, much like potato or cucumber beetles and other unwanted critters, can be deterred with an infusion made of nicotine. If you have a smoker in the family, gather the cigarette and cigar buds instead of throwing them out. If you have about 25 of them, boil the tobacco without the filters in water, let stew for a few hours or overnight. Stain, dilute, and spray on the foliage of your plants. Repeat if necessary.
If you do not have a smoker in the family, buy cheap snuff and use a tbsp to brew the infusion.
If you want a stronger repellent, add three cloves of crushed garlic and a tbsp of red pepper flakes to the tobacco.
