Blinking Blackfly!!!

[RobintheBobin]

I'm growing Bunyard's Exhibition broadies and I've got black fly already The plants are only about 18" high so I'm loathe to pinch them out - does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of the blighters?

[Nicos]

I'm afraid that when it comes to that sort of infestation I resort to organic pesticides...there are only so many blackfly you can squish

I do try to be as natural as possible- but the reproduction rate of blackfly never ceases to amaze me.

Oh - and welcome to the Vine!

[RobintheBobin]

Thanks for the reply

Can you recommend an organic pesticide which will work? I'm trying my best to avoid the baddy chemical sprays so any advice welcome.

Thanks

PS. There are ants on there...are they eating the blackfly? After much staring i can't seem to tell.

[Nicos]

Nah- they'll be milking them!

I'll pop and look in my shed and see what we use......

[Capsid]

The ants are farming the blackfly for their sugary secretions.

[Nicos]

Not in the shed- must have left it in the greenhouse on the lottie after spraying the blackfly on the peach tree.

It's a standard organic pesticide for fruit and veg which we bought from the garden centre though.

[jacob marley]

Boil some Rhubarb leaves up in a big saucepan and let it cool then spray on the dreaded you can't get any more natural than that and it deters cabbage root fly if sprayed on when you plant jacob

[clare3411]

Hi

I have been given two tips one is the Rhubab boiling etc and the other is nicotin spray, boil some ciggies up (if you smoke or someone else is kind enough to let you have a few) the spray the liquid onto the plants, supposedly it is remarkable, have been lucky and so far have not got any on my beans so it must be working or too early.

Hope that helps

[lottie dolly]

i read somwhere that you have to be carefull about the boiling of rhubarb leaves,about not to use the boiling pan for anything else afterwards,as its poison,? cannot find anything on search ,
the nicotine,see{ search }for more info,not seem to be a very good idea.
i just had a look i typed in,boiling rhubarb leaves,just look at the different threads,is quite informative,someone was using home made garlic spray for the black fly,

a lot of people do not realise that if you look on the search at the top of page,a lot of info can be sound,i for one heard of this,but only JUST cottoned on to the,where,and how to use,{there are many like me who are not born with computor know how}what do the powers that be think about a sticky or other means of a thread to explain what is about and the use of,as there is a lot of info given by people,and an answer could maybe found straight away instead of waiting for a new reply.
what do others think

[Two_Sheds]

I've got blackfly on my Witkiem Manita broad beans, so spent 5 mins pinching out the growing tips and squishing the flies with my fingers.
You really don't need to spend time and money on sprays.

[Two_Sheds]

a lot of people do not realise that if you look on the search at the top of page,a lot of info can be sound (sic),...what do others think

I thought that too.http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...rly_10688.html

[Farmer_Gyles]

my broadies are 12" high and have been covered in blackfly over the last couple of days - i'm not pinching them out now as they're supposed to reach 4ft high, so will use a pesticide and see how we go from there

[zazen999]

I read somewhere that one gardener spreads home made compost as a mulch and the blackfly is gone the next day.

[Two_Sheds]

my broadies are 12" high and have been covered in blackfly over the last couple of days - i'm not pinching them out now as they're supposed to reach 4ft high, so will use a pesticide and see how we go from there

Ideally your beans would be grown a bit more before the blackfly comes along, but this isn't always easily done, I know.
You MUST get rid of the fly, so take away it's food source ... tender young growth. Pinch out the growing tips for goodness sake. The plant will still produce beans even if it is vertically-challenged.

BTW: Autumn-sown broadies are rarely affected, being quite tough to eat at 6 months old.

[Peanut]

I've been using garlic wash regularly and it seems to be working really well