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Millions of Aphids on Delphinium and Lupin roots and stalks!!

theconstantgardenerinwalestheconstantgardenerinwales Posts: 71
in Problem solving
Good Morning my friends, here I am again needing your expert advice. This morning I have been cutting my tall plants down to the ground thinking about sorting out for Winter mulching.
All the Delphiniums and Lupins are in the same bed and have been a joy to see this year. Most of the plants are only 2 years old, some only this year from seed.
However, I have had Aphids on some which I thought I had dealt with using my trusty hose for blasting! Now looking at the root and stalk areas I still have infestation numbers in and around the hollow stalks of the plants!

Should I give up on these fabulous plants (Most of the Delphiniums were 8 or 9 foot tall) and dig them up, as the little blighters are crawling inside the stalks in the soil and possibly continuing down into the roots.
All I can think of is to try and blast the hose onto the whole bed, or am I wasting my time and do I need to replace the plants.
Any help much appreciated. Thank you.
. 

Posts

  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    I would have thought that given the size of an aphid’s mouth and the toughness of thick delphinium stems and roots, it would be akin to giving you the winning entry in the giant pumpkin competition and told to chew on that. I expect the insects are just sheltering there, maybe seeing it as a site to lay their overwintering eggs. If so, disturbing their resting spot with blasts of water is no bad thing. A directed jet from a hand sprayer filled with soapy water is sometimes advocated. Delphinium and lupin shoots in Spring have a hard enough time with slugs and snails without having to cope with aphids too.

    Definitely do not replace the plants. A slightly older plant will have more vigour, can more easily shrug off mollusc attacks and will be more floriferous.
    Rutland, England
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Aphids are very attracted to those plants, so it's often just how it is, although delphiniums are more attractive to molluscs in my experience.  
    I would agree with @BenCotto though - the more mature a plant is, the more easily it can withstand any pests, but if they're in among stalks which are dying back, they're probably just sheltering. Leaving some stalks/stems in place also gives their predators some protection. Ladybirds for example. 
    A jet from the hose to disperse them is probably the easiest solution, but it'll soon be cold enough to kill most of them off too.
    Fluctuations in temps and weather means that spells of infestations don't always coincide with predators. Getting blue tits in to snaffle them up is the best solution, so a small bird feeder nearby can help enormously.
    All part of gardening   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • theconstantgardenerinwalestheconstantgardenerinwales Posts: 71
    Hello, Thank you, I appreciated the humour Ben, it cheered me up! already got the feeder Fairy Girl, It's a relief to know I don't have to replace the plants. First year I have grown so many. I will do as you both say and then stop worrying.  I appreciate you both taking the time to reply. 
    Many Thanks, enjoy your day.
    Hazel.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I gave up on delphiniums many years ago because of slugs. Too much effort involved in keeping them at bay  ;)
    Good that you have a feeder. Sometimes it is just the balance gets disturbed, in the same way that it can happen in spring. 
    Mind you, those blue tits are being a bit slow at catching the little amount of aphids on my white sweet peas just now. I have a large pot of them about 3 feet away, but the sunflower hearts are just too tempting for them. Lazy sods ...  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • theconstantgardenerinwalestheconstantgardenerinwales Posts: 71
    Yes, you are right. The balance of Nature is driving me crazy but it is sad that things are so badly disturbed. Here in wales we have had no rain for many weeks but amazingly the plants battle to survive. I seem to be watering all the time! I should count myself lucky that I have the garden to keep me sane. I am also too hard on myself and work too hard all the time. At 71 I should slow down but I just can't I feel so responsible for the planting and in the Winter I get carried away with sowing seeds etc. I have to learn that everything that goes wrong isn't my fault!! Maybe one day? Thank you for the encouragement. 
    Hazel.


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