Households urged to sprinkle £1.10 item around plants that attract pests
Some plants are an absolute magnet for nasty pest infestations but no need to despair - experts say this one cheap food item can help banish them.
You probably know cayenne pepper for its sweet aroma and fiery kick. The scarlet spice is frequently found in Mexican and South American dishes, so if you're a fan of these cuisines you likely have it lying around in your kitchen. However, it does a lot more than enrich your meals – cayenne pepper is also a great pest deterrent.
This comes in especially handy if you happen to be growing plants that are pest-magnets. These include popular flowers like roses and sunflowers, as well as fruits and vegetables.
The reason cayenne pepper works is because many animals dislike its distinct smell and stinging taste. DIY Everywhere explains: 'Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, which produces a burning sensation that animals find unpleasant.'
The best way to use it is to pour a small amount around your plant beds. DIY Everywhere continues: 'Sprinkling cayenne pepper around your plants can deter critters from digging or nibbling."
In particular, it can keep rats and foxes at bay – two of the biggest culprits when it comes to ravaging your garden. Worse still, these animals can also spread nasty diseases if kept unchecked.
The pepper can also ward off any sneaky dogs and cats from your plants. While they may be friendly, your neighbourhood pets can become a nuisance if they're regularly chowing through your greens.
Equally, cayenne pepper can also come in handy if your plants are being plagued by a bug infestation. Aphids, maggots and spider mites are all common garden pests that hate the taste of the spice.
This also prevents them from spreading nasty diseases. For example, aphids are known to spread the cucumber mosaic virus, which causes mottled leaves and stunted growth.
Of course, while it may seem cruel to feed animals hot powder, it is safe for most animals to consume in small doses. Plus, it's a far safer option than using chemical pesticides.
Not only can chemical pesticides wreak havoc on plants and the surrounding ecosystem, they can cause unnecessary harm to the local wildlife by polluting vital food and water sources.
Conversely, using cayenne pepper will keep your plants much healthier, as it won't damage surrounding plants. It also won't pollute any surrounding food or water sources.
Even if you don't have any lying around at home, you can find cayenne pepper in most supermarkets. You can pick up a jar from Sainsbury's for just £1.10.
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The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
‘Astonishingly good value' – the best supermarket tofu, tasted and rated
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Though a little lower in soya content, it delivers fantastic performance in the pan and at an incredible price. £2.90 for 396g at Ocado (73p/100g)£3 for 396g at Waitrose (76p/100g)★★★★★ Distinctively marbled and off-white/grey, this has a subtle aroma and a clean, complex flavour. Very firm and reacts well to frying, forming a satisfyingly thick crust. Made with 35.8% organic soya, using a mix of EU and non-EU beans, it's high in protein and has strong sustainability credentials. A well-rounded option that's a very close runner-up to the best overall. £2.30 for 280g at Sainsbury's (82p/100g)£2.30 for 280g at Tesco (82p/100g)★★★★☆ An irregularly marbled block with a deep umami, almost smoky aroma and a lovely firm bounce. One of the densest, less traditional tofus tested, with a chewy bite. When fried, it forms a good golden crust with loads of flavour. Made in Yorkshire using organic soya from EU and non-EU farms. Great Taste Award-winning, very high in protein (16.5g per 100g) and a bold, characterful choice. £2.50 for 300g at Ocado (83p/100g)★★★★☆ A uniform block with a sweet, subtle aroma, a soft bite and a gentle soya flavour. Holding its shape and forming a delicate, uniform golden crust when fried, this has one of the best textures in the whole test group. Made from organic, non-EU soya, it has 34% soya content and a respectable protein level. Strikes a solid balance between taste and texture. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion £2 for 300g at Morrisons (67p/100g)£2.55 for 300g at Ocado (85p/100g)★★★★☆ A uniform block with a sweet, neutral aroma, a soft bite and a creamy mouthfeel. 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Decent value, but there are more versatile options at a lower price point. £3 for 400g at Ocado (75p/100g)★★★☆☆ A white block with a soft bite, this has a sweet, subtle aroma and a clean soya taste. Despite being one of the softest in the test, it crisps up surprisingly well when fried, forming a light but satisfying crust. However, it's the only non-organic product tested, and made with just 16% soya – far lower than the others. Limited provenance or sustainability information, so with such strong competition, it offers less value for money. £5 for 500g at Ocado (£1/100g)£29.94 for 6 x 500g at Amazon (£1/100g)★★★☆☆ An irregular, mottled, off-white block that looks hand-shaped, and that's full of bubbles. One of the firmest to bite with a complex, soya-forward flavour. Fries very well, forming a great crust. Certified organic with non-EU soya, it's the only product tested with a fully reusable and recyclable container. Owned by Windmill Organics, a great company committed to organic farming, which earns it a bonus point.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
One supermarket's 28p sausage roll tastes better than M&S, Co-op and Sainsbury's
The tasty baked good makes the perfect snack - but with so much choice, which is the best? With temperatures set to soar again with a heatwave bringing highs of 30C on the way, it usually calls for one thing in Britain - 'picky bits' to eat in the garden. When it gets too hot to even think about firing up the oven or air fryer, it has become a time-honoured tradition for Brits to make do with an easy meal of 'picky' food that you can easily eat with your hands. Everyone does 'picky bits' differently, but most rely on a few staples that are easy to pull off without much effort. From a quick salad to a selection of finger food like pork pies, deli meats and crackers. However, there's one thing in our house that never fails to appear at an impromptu 'picky bits' session—and that's the classic sausage roll. Served from the oven or eaten cold, nothing can beat this British delicacy, in my opinion. Most supermarkets will have their own version of the savoury roll in the chilled section. But, with more hot weather likely to sweep the UK this summer, I wanted to find out which shop had the ultimate staple for picky bits. In a sweep of the local shops near me, I got rolls from Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Lidl, M&S and the Co-op. With enough sausage rolls to start my own version of Greggs, I tried them all to figure out where I should be shopping before the next heatwave. I stuck with the classic version and aimed to get the same-sized packets (to fairly compare the cost). We're not sausage roll snobs in this house, and we usually just grab a pack from wherever we happen to be shopping that week, but this is the first time we've ever faced them off at the same time. I fouhd the most disappointing was Asda's offer (£1.58) - it lacked as much flavour as the other rolls. On top of this, it was extremely flaky which ended up making the process of eating it quite messy and they were one of the paler sausage rolls we got. Co-op was almost one of the most expensive packs in this test (£2.35). Compared to other stores, the sausage roll itself was quite average, so I wouldn't be happy paying the amount I did when I now know you can get better for less. Tesco's sausage rolls (£1.95) were not exceptional. I can't complain about the flavour and price of the pack, but I also can't say that they gave my tastebuds anything to be overly excited about either. I had high hopes for M&S, being the self-appointed 'Home of Picky Bits'. The cost compared to other cheaper options already made it a little more of a luxury than a cheap and cheerful treat - but it did taste quite nice and had great flavour. Unlike the Co-op, I would be more than happy plating up some M&S sausage rolls again as the quality matched the cost. Aldi and Sainsbury's (both £1.69) both claimed third place, and it was hard to pick a winner out of the two, and it really boiled down to flavour. Aldi's was a slightly nicer pasty than Sainsbury's, but I will admit Sainsbury's had a chunky amount of sausage. I also really liked how Sainsbury's was the only shop to opt for a non-plastic option for its tray. Morrisons was a close second - as it tasted exceptional and had a lovely golden colour to it. It was one of the most expensive options (£2.40) which might put a bit of a dent in food shops that need to stick to a budget. My ultimate find was Lidl's Chef Select pack (£1.69). At just 28p per sausage roll, it's an easy crowd pleaser that even my fussy dad (who hates budget supermarkets) liked. Everyone who tried one said that the taste was quite delicious, and the meat had a lovely blend of seasoning. It was also quite well packed, meaning there were no bites of just pure pastry. In another plus, this pack from Lidl had the longest shelf life on it compared to other brands I picked up - making it a good option to stretch over a few days. The final ranking: Lidl: 9/10 Morrisons: 8/10 Aldi: 7.5/10 Sainsbury's: 7.5/10 M&S: 7/10 Tesco: 6/10 Co-op: 5/10 Asda: 4/10
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
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