[Veggie Virgin]

Have heard great things about this fertilizer - it supposed to stop ALL bugs from wanting to eat, live and reproduce without affecting the veggies or the birds, worms, etc.  However, what I have learned about it is from a totally anal organic nut  (my son) who doesn't actually do any gardening but does have a compost heap!   Has anyone actually tried this wonder fertilizer and, if so, what do you think of it?

[Celtic Eagle]

I've heard of it but don't know a lot about it.  To be completly honest it sounds a bit unselective if it affects all bugs. Try a search on Google and see what comes up, I'd recommend looking for any scientific studies . Not easy reading but usually fairly balanced.

[gillie]

I have done a quick google of a number of sites selling neem fertilizer.  NONE of them make such miraculous claims.  Anyway, if it did stop all bugs I would steer clear of it as it would affect the good guys as well.

Gillie

[Salmo]

I believe that neem trees are sacred in the Hindu religion. In India they get oil from the seeds(maybe leaves?) to use as a universal insect deterrant on crops and it is also used in many medicines especially skin care. Twigs from the neem tree are the ones used for cleaning teeth.

I have not heard of it being used as a fertilizer. Maybe the leaves and crushed seeds are composted?

Please ask your son to tell you more about it. Is it commercially available in the UK? Should we have a Neem tree on every allotment?

[gillie]

Here is one source: http://www.thenaturalgardener.co.uk/neem_natural_fertilizer.php and it is also available from the allotment shop on this site.

Gillie

[Veggie Virgin]

Thanks for all the advice and comments - I had actually had a look on the web at the various sites, but I really wondered if anyone had any experience of actually USING it as a fertilizer and, if so, what were the results.  As with so much that is on the web, it can be nine parts true and one part complete fallacy or nonsense!!!

Thanks again.

[gillie]

It appears that nobody has used it.  However even if they had there would be no way of knowing whether it was good as there are too many other variables - weather, soil, varieties of vegetables grown and so forth.  

That is why properly controlled scientific research is important but so far I have not found any studies of neem fertilizer used in this country.

Gillie