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Help! APHIDS in my greenhouse

BernieEarnie13BernieEarnie13 Posts: 36
in Problem solving
Hi all,

As much advice as possible here! I've had a greenhouse for a few years now and this year is the first I have encountered an APHID infestation. It all started yesterday when I noticed my healthy tomato seedlings had basically curled up and shrunk in size - then I noticed the little pests. Needless to say I removed all infested leaves of those not as infested and the plants that had been severely infested I put in the compost bin.  Tonight I have found that they have now started on my salvia and golden eye seedlings! RATHER annoyed.

Has anyone got any tips/tricks to get rid? I thought about finding a load of ladybirds in the garden and putting them on the infested plants in greenhouse. Although both yesterday and today I could not find any in the garden - typical! 

Many thanks in advance. I'd really like to get shot of them before all my hard work goes in the compost bin! 

Posts

  • BernieEarnie13BernieEarnie13 Posts: 36
    Forgot to say that I am trying to keep my garden organic. So any organic suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Many thanks!
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I use soapy water to spot treat aphids in the greenhouse. Use a natural washing up soap like Ecover Zero mixed fairly strongly in a sprayer and give them a good coating. The soap clogs their pores and they can't respire so they die very quickly.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • edhelkaedhelka Posts: 2,351
    Wash the plants under running water and repeat if needed. It's hard to get them all but once that seedlings get bigger, they will be able to survive some aphids.
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    Another proven remedy is to boil rhubarb leaves, strain off the liquid when cool and, again, spray them with it.  Guaranteed organic.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    You can’t keep the rhubarb liquid though, you have to use within 24 hours apparently. 
    recip here.

    Boil 500 grams of rhubarb leaves in a few pints of water for about 20 minutes.

    Allow leaf mixture to cool.

    Strain the liquid into a CHILD PROOF/SAFE suitable container.

    Add a tiny bit of dish detergent or soap flakes, (not laundry detergent).

    Using a spray bottle, spray on leaves to kill off bugs such as aphids and spider mites, June bugs, and fungus diseases. 

    *NOTE - DO NOT spray this product on ANYTHING edible. Rhubarb leaves contain high amounts of oxalic acid, and are poisonous, and could cause death.  

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    In a greenhouse, good ventilation round the plants helps too.
    I rub off aphids [although I only have a tiny greenhouse and nothing aphid attracting in there just now ] but water is the best method for large amounts. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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