• Worldwide. South and Southeast Asia, Africa, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Oceania. In Australia, Fiji, Solomon Islands, and many other Pacific island countries.
• Fast growing evergreen tree, 20 m high, mahogany family, long flexible leaves with 20-30 paired leaflets; fruits oval, yellow when ripe, 3 cm long.
• Used as pesticide against moths, aphids, leaf and plant hoppers, leaf miners, grasshoppers, scale insects, whiteflies and nematodes.
• Spray in evening to avoid leaf burn and destruction by sunlight.
• Use fresh:
  • 1 kg/5 litre water, soak overnight (preferably pound first, or after soaking).
  • Squeeze leaves, strain, add about 20 g soap, and use.
• Use dried:
  • Collect leaves, dry and store.
  • Add 250 g/5 litre water, soak overnight, pound, soak again overnight.
  • Squeeze, strain, add about 20 g soap, and use.
• Use seeds:
  • Select yellow fruit, dry 3-4 days in the sun.
  • Pound to remove seed, winnow; pound seeds to fine powder.
  • Add 250g/5 litre water, mix, soak 24 hours.
  • Strain, add 20 g soap, and use.

Neem

Azadirachta indica