How to deal with aphids/blackfly?

tuffnelljohn · June 2023

Hi,

Ive been dealing with aphid/blackfly on my broadbeans for a couple of weeks now. Each morning/evening I go out and spray with washing up liquid/water. Ive also used Provanto. They just keep coming back - within minutes!

But now theyve moved on to my tomato plants which Im not happy about.

Im interested to know what has worked for others? Is anyone else having issues with aphids/blackfly this year?

Thanks

Lyn · June 2023

Because it’s hot and dry, just what they love. Usually tomato plants are not affected, spray off with water, when the plants get robust they should be ok. Are there too many to rub off with your fingers?

Don’t get caught with your hose pipe though😀

nick615 · June 2023

Try boiling some rhubarb and, once cool, put the liquid in a spray gun (household type) and dose them with that. It's what I do, but some avoid it because the liquid is actually poisonous. However, bearing in mind the fluid only touches the pods, and one can rinse the actual beans off before cooking, I'm still alive and kicking at 80!

nick615 · June 2023

PS - I should have said 'Rhubarb LEAVES'!!

tuffnelljohn · June 2023

Lyn said:

Because it’s hot and dry, just what they love. Usually tomato plants are not affected, spray off with water, when the plants get robust they should be ok. Are there too many to rub off with your fingers?
Don’t get caught with your hose pipe though😀

Yes, I was surprised to see them on my tomatoes too!

I have been rubbing them off with my fingers, being careful not to hurt the young leaves/buds/flowers. But a minute later blackfly are back on it. They are just ravenous! I heard garlic/water is good (guess Ill be using my recently harvested garlic for the aphids rather than dinner!

) and washing up liquid/water is good as it drown them.

I will be buying this to see if it helps: https://www.wilko.com/provanto-ready-to-use-ultimate-bug-killer-1l/p/0478646

rowlandscastle444 · June 2023

We've had blackfly on our broad beans this year. Seems they like them very much.
This year, I let the wife deal with them. Yes, diluted washing up liquid in a spray bottle.

Does it work? Well, I picked our first pods of the year today, and despite still having a number of aphids on the outside, they seem okay.

TheGreenMan · June 2023

I’ve got them on my achillea this year.

No matter how many I squish/wash off more come back.

TenN · June 2023

I've got them everywhere this year. Ones on the cherry tree get a blast from the hose on jet setting but all the others lower down get a squish between thumb and forefinger. I like to leave some for the ladybirds but I haven't seen many so far this year.

tuffnelljohn · June 2023

Im still dealing with these aphids!! I even found them on my leeks!

At the moment I have a fairly good technique of squirt/squish/squirt/squish etc... Im doing this twice a day!!! Theyre just not getting the hint theyre not welcome!!

Im doing a lot of damage to the plants (the flowers get squirted off and the squishing is probably damaging the leaves).

Is it just going to be like this for the rest of the season!? (if so then Ill give up, I dont have time to continue doing this!!!). Or is their lifecycle going to end soon?

Crazybeelady · June 2023

I'm struggling with them too, it's hard being an organic gardener sometimes; I would love to destroy them all with a pesticide but I won't! I spend my time squidging them, it's disgusting. I cut off some of my infested plum tree and put in the green bin - the following day the outside of the bin was crawling with them, no matter how many times I wiped them off!
Funnily enough, I stopped growing lupins thanks to aphids but a couple have self seeded - probably the only plant in the garden without them!!
Sorry I have no help to offer, but you're not alone 😄

Slow-worm · June 2023

They've covered the cherry tree this year, it looks vile, but is still fruiting - and dripping sticky crap everywhere.

How to deal with aphids/blackfly?

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