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Whitefly in greenhouse

SuesynSuesyn Posts: 664
in Fruit & veg
I need some advice please. I have climbing French beans (blue lake) in the greenhouse and they have got Whitefly on the leaves. Should I be trying to get rid of them or will they survive OK,  and will the other plants, tomatoes , peppers, cucumber and lettuce be affected too. I obviously  don't want to kill any pollinators. 
They are also on my beech hedge but that is big enough to withstand it.
Thank you

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I can only suggest a preventative measure for next season
    I plant around 6 French marigolds and about 8 basil plants in front of the tomatoes - I've not had any aphid infestation over the years. They dislike the smell and avoid the area.
    I've no idea if there's any scientific proof, but it's worked for me for many years

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • SuesynSuesyn Posts: 664
    Thanks for your quick response, Pete.I have some calendula in the garden, is it worth transplanting some into the greenhouse to see if it works?
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    It certainly won't harm - they're from the same family and smell similar.
    I don't know if it'll make the aphids leave, but marigolds seem to prevent them from arriving.
    Give it a go
    It'd be worth trying to blast off the aphids with a hose first if possible (but not on a sunny day - possible scorch to plants)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    White fly is much more difficult to get rid of than green fly, they don’t seem to mind other plants, the one good thing is they are very slow, if you're very careful you can pick up each leaf and squash them.  That’s what I do on my tomatoes.
    Failing that you can get a mild spray for edibles if you really want too. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • chris 172chris 172 Posts: 403
    Why don't you grow the beans outside where natural friendly insects can take care of them. I have always grown beans outside and had great returns
  • SuesynSuesyn Posts: 664
    I do grow them outside as well but the ones in the greenhouse produce an earlier crop, I will be picking the first ones this week and the ones outside on the allotment are at least a month behind. The aim is to have home grown green vegetables all year round.
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