Growing Your Own Neem plant.

I've heard of people keeping them growing down around the Homested Fl. area. Up here where I am we have China Berry trees which are a very close relative and also produce Azadarachtin. They are much more cold tolerant, and were initially introduced for erosion control on field lines. They were later used as wormers, insecticides, and such. They would boil the berries and water crops with the brew. Of course, in India, just like in other places, the berries, leaves, and bark from that family of trees has been used for centuries as medicine.

 

What about the China Berry Chunk? Can it grow up there?
I'm aware there a 2 or 3 compounds within it that differ from neem, but it does well here, where winters occasionally throw some 20 degree nights at us.

 

I'm not sure on that one Chunk. I'm assuming the chemical compounds are found in the leaves as well. The fruit is like a miniature percimmon, and is easy to mush into a pulp when it's ripe. They are everywhere here, and one thing is obvious is that there are only 1 or 2 insects that can feed on them. Some species of birds will eat the fruit. Also, it's the last tree on a fence row to be attacked by termites, if it occurs at all. I know for a fact that historically the renderings from the berries were used as systemic control for vegetable crops.

 

And their growth is pretty fast. I've been given the don't you ever put one of those in your mouth speeches when I was a little guy many times. I doubt very seriously that a sane human being could tolerate chewing up one of those LOL!! It's not exactly like a 5 year old would wander away from the blueberry bush and stuff his cakehole with chinaberries.

Question: Would it be likely that the compounds that are toxic to humans have to be ingested in large doses to be toxic? My grandmother would be 110 this year but died at age 96, and told me about in her day that's what they used to keep bugs out of the garden. They shower canned the hell out of it with the tea.

 

This is a great idea. Made me think too.... Next time I go to the ocean I should bring home a big bag of kelp to dry or just toss in the compost heap. There are so many ways to lower the price and raise the quality of the products we grow with. It's fun to think about. I'm proud how little I spent this season and I know it's just going to get better and better, the more products I learn to make myself. Thanks for all the great info and inspiration guys.

 

Hey Chunk, I thought I spotted neem trees in an old clearcut near the highway this afternoon. The leaves were turning and shedding. I can't be 100% positive, but they look like a dead ringer. I'm going to do a little closer investigating tomorrow.