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A plan to get rid of aphids?

ShepherdsBarnShepherdsBarn Posts: 401
in Problem solving
Has anyone tried smoking aphids to get rid of them?
We were tending the bees this morning and I decided to use the smoker on the aphids that have begun to infest our cauliflowers ... they certainly didn't like it - several fell off the plant. I'm not sure if the ones that stayed are dead. I also tried it on a rose stem, but the smoker was running out of fuel by then. I will keep an eye on developments! 😊
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I could do with more of them - for the blue tit family in the nest box.  :)
    I don't grow a lot of plants that are prone to aphids at this time of year, so they're never much of a problem.  I've never heard of people using a smoker though.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Big Blue SkyBig Blue Sky Posts: 716
    This year we’re very fortunate to have a blue tit family living in the bird box on the fence. Our garden has never been so pest-free! It’s amazing. No spraying, no effort - and literally not a single aphid or caterpillar or other pest left. 
    They were so busy feeding the babies, who fledged three days ago. We are hoping for the second round of babies as it is still so early in the season - so we continue having pest-free garden and can enjoy observing the little family. 
    Surrey
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    Big Blue Sky said:
    This year we’re very fortunate to have a blue tit family living in the bird box on the fence. Our garden has never been so pest-free! It’s amazing. No spraying, no effort - and literally not a single aphid or caterpillar or other pest left. 
    They were so busy feeding the babies, who fledged three days ago. We are hoping for the second round of babies as it is still so early in the season - so we continue having pest-free garden and can enjoy observing the little family. 
    Yet i have a garden full of Blue, Coal and Great Tits and also a big aphid infestation.
    Sunny Dundee
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It will also depend on timing. The youngsters here aren't anywhere near fledging, but they need plenty of food, so the parents are very busy.
    If yours are even later than here @Balgay.Hill there can be a bit of an imbalance, so your aphids are multiplying [ the spring weather has probably been a big factor there]
    but the birds aren't quite ready for stuffing their little beaks. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    edited May 2022
    Not Aphid related but smoke related, I was listening to a gardening show on BBC Sounds recommended by @Dovefromabove I think it was an episode of GQT from 1947 and a chap said the best way to fumigate a greenhouse was to burn Knapweed inside as the smoke killed ALL and every pest.

    Interesting idea, maybe a bee hive smoker is the way to go.
  • ShepherdsBarnShepherdsBarn Posts: 401
    I will have to look up knapweed! I thought we had every weed going, well almost ... but not sure about that one! 😀
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It probably killed everything beneficial as well though @Sheps   :)

    Centaurea - knapweed is just the common name. It's certainly vigorous, but I wouldn't call it a weed.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    @Fairygirl...I don't doubt it, but we're talking 1947 thinking on pest control.

    Though, saying that, I know when I fumigated my greenhouse earlier in the year it was completely empty.
  • Big Blue SkyBig Blue Sky Posts: 716
    Balgay.Hill said:
    Big Blue Sky said:
    This year we’re very fortunate to have a blue tit family living in the bird box on the fence. Our garden has never been so pest-free! It’s amazing. No spraying, no effort - and literally not a single aphid or caterpillar or other pest left. 
    They were so busy feeding the babies, who fledged three days ago. We are hoping for the second round of babies as it is still so early in the season - so we continue having pest-free garden and can enjoy observing the little family. 
    Yet i have a garden full of Blue, Coal and Great Tits and also a big aphid infestation.
    Probably it’s all about the timing. But I am actually shocked how pest-free my garden is. The first time ever and also the first time we have ever had blue tits nesting in the bird box. 
    Coincidence? I don’t know, but I don’t think so. xx
    Surrey
  • CloggieCloggie Posts: 1,457
    I take a laissez faire (pronounced lazy) attitude to greenfly.  We had tons on the climbing roses a couple of weeks ago and now its full of white skeleton cases and ladybird larvae.  I did have a lovely blue lupin that was fine for two years then came up absolutely plastered in them, 5 deep.  I tried throwing washing up water over it and blasting it with the hose but nothing worked so I sacrificed it and it didn't come up next year.  If I'd still smoked I might have tried that! 😄🤔
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