Black fly on my broad beans

[newbieveggie]

Hi there
I have just spotted black fly on my broad beans. I have planted some sacrificial nasturtiums (sp ?) but so far they are devoid of blackfly. I want something organic, does washing up water work ? I dont want soapy beans

[Dynamo]

I don't think that having a sacrificial crop is a good idea regarding aphids. You only need one or two to land on a plant and it will become infested from their offspring.

The advice I've been given regarding Blackfly is to pinch off the parts of the plant, usually the top, and leave the rest. The blackfly shouldn't hurt the more established parts of the plant.

[MagicLady]

I've got them on my Runner Beans but they are on the stems and underside of the leaves, fairly low down so I wouldn't be able to pinch them out. Would they be ok if left?

[newbieveggie]

Hmm I was hoping not to nip out the tips as they are only about 14" high and they are reputed to grow to 36". They are broad bean express. They have lots of flowers on them, does that mean they wont grow any higher then ? Im a complete novice on broad beans as you can prob tell.

[Flummery]

I use water with a small amount of washing up liquid and squirt it all over them, squishing with my fingers too. In this way you can wash off/demolish the blackfly. You often need to do it sevral times. I've saved broad bean plants like this. Spotting them early on helps tremendously.

[selfraising]

As Flummery I've just jetted mine with washing up liquid mix and managed to get some with the garden hose on high pressure!

[Flummery]

Why does the title of this thread make me want to sing "But I'm still rolling along"?

I know, I'm barmy.

[Storming Norman]

My lottie neighbour suggested that I tried a washing up liquid solution on my broad beans, as the allotment seems to be a magnet for quite a few predators of all sorts.

I tried this a few days ago and it cleared half of the beans almost completely. A second dose yesterday and one more at the weekend and I think it will be easily as good as any nasty pesticides.

I assume that it is not as bad to use as pesticides........is it?

What a great idea - now why didn't I think of that before?

Ann

[Flummery]

That's what I use Norman. Because the w-u- liquid lowers the surface tension of the water it helps to wash things off better. The waxy coating of the aphids is also broken down by the detergent and they are drowned! And if it doesn't kill you to eat off plates washed in the stuff I reckon it's fairly safe.

[Polly Fouracre]

Half a bucket of stinging nettles, three crushed-a-bit cloves of garlic and half a gallon of water. Stir every time you pass it for a day or so then, with a large paint brush( a distemper brush or similar) sloosh it over the blackfly. One application should be enough but if not repeat next day. Do this in the evening when the bees have gone to bed, it may not harm them but I don't chance it

[Pumpkin Becki]

I've had good success with a mild solution of tea tree shampoo squirted on, my theory being that tea tree has insect repellant qualities (as well as breaking water surface tension and breaking down the coating on the aphids).