AAHRRGH! Sorry, I pasted that in from a Word document where I'd saved it. I think this is plain text but I'm not sure:
This is cheap to make up, safe and you can use it on a variety of insects like scale, aphids and smooth skinned caterpillars. It works well on citrus fruit, since it is so cheap spraying a small tree is no problem.
Here’s how it’s done: 1. In a blender, combine 2 cups of vegetable oil with ½ cup of dishwashing liquid. Blend it up until well mixed. This is your concentrate and can be stored in a jar. Be sure to label it and include the dilution rate on the label.
2. To prepare the concentrate for use, dilute 1 tablespoon in a litre of water, mix it well and spray the pest as well as both sides of the foliage thoroughly.
3. Always follow this dilution rate, because you can burn the foliage if it’s too strong and there are a few other rules; don’t apply it in hot sunny weather and avoid using it on plants with hairy foliage as well as ferns as this can also cause leaf burn.
I had them last year. Completly destroyed my lupin. I hit them with the hose in the morning and evening. Soapy water was applied evry other day it was that bad, but it didn't even dent them. These are not ordinary aphids! Some were probably about 3-4 times the size of normal ones. They breed like crazy too.
I refuse to use chemicals ( i'm trying to give our wildlife a helping hand)I have been looking for natural ways of controlling them but apparently our natural predators (ladybirds, lacewings, bluetits etc.) Don't seem to bother with them. I seem to recall that they are a North American species. Companion planting with garlic, onions , chives and nastursiums was also mentioned but no idea if any of it works.
I've Never not had a lupin but I think I will give it a miss this year, shame they are my favourite plants
(Scotts EcoSense Bug be Gone) This is a chrysanthemum liquid that you mix with water in a spray bottle..lasts a long time and it is made from Garden Mums so it is considered very safe..works like a charm..re-spray after a rain or every 3 to 4 days for serious infestation ..or for plants being attacked by beetles or grasshoppers...
Once you get Lupin Aphids they are hard to get rid of as the egg life cycle is actually in the ground...Big Ugly Suckers..however I have never seen this particular aphid go to any other plant and they might be a good thing...keeping them away from other plants...a sacrficial offering so to speak...(ie: many gardeners grow certain vegies to attract aphids away from other vegies..)
Oh Yes...I haven't noticed that these aphids actually harm the plant very much..although I do keep them under control..they come back every year..but they never spread to the other plants...(Apparently they are a lupin aphid) and unless I get close I can't see them so I figure heck whats the problem! and then I just use the Garden Mum spray to knock off a few of the beasts...OK so maybe a few means hundreds but it takes a few minutes and all is well...
I believe they are insecticides based on Pyrethrum which is extracted from Chrysanthemums and considered organic. The RHS have a list of products based on this in their 'pesticides for home use' pdf, here, for anyone looking (see page 3):
Posts
If the lupin aphids return (and they may well do so) you might like to try this spray. I got the "recipe" from another forum and have used it myself:
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AAHRRGH! Sorry, I pasted that in from a Word document where I'd saved it. I think this is plain text but I'm not sure:
This is cheap to make up, safe and you can use it on a variety of insects like scale, aphids and smooth skinned caterpillars. It works well on citrus fruit, since it is so cheap spraying a small tree is no problem.
Here’s how it’s done:
1. In a blender, combine 2 cups of vegetable oil with ½ cup of dishwashing liquid. Blend it up until well mixed.
This is your concentrate and can be stored in a jar. Be sure to label it and include the dilution rate on the label.
2. To prepare the concentrate for use, dilute 1 tablespoon in a litre of water, mix it well and spray the pest as well as both sides of the foliage thoroughly.
3. Always follow this dilution rate, because you can burn the foliage if it’s too strong and there are a few other rules; don’t apply it in hot sunny weather and avoid using it on plants with hairy foliage as well as ferns as this can also cause leaf burn.
Greenmagpie- thanks for that tip.
I had them last year. Completly destroyed my lupin. I hit them with the hose in the morning and evening. Soapy water was applied evry other day it was that bad, but it didn't even dent them. These are not ordinary aphids! Some were probably about 3-4 times the size of normal ones. They breed like crazy too.
I refuse to use chemicals ( i'm trying to give our wildlife a helping hand)I have been looking for natural ways of controlling them but apparently our natural predators (ladybirds, lacewings, bluetits etc.) Don't seem to bother with them. I seem to recall that they are a North American species. Companion planting with garlic, onions , chives and nastursiums was also mentioned but no idea if any of it works.
I've Never not had a lupin but I think I will give it a miss this year, shame they are my favourite plants
I find slugs a problem with lupins too as they seem to love the leaves. I don't want to use slug pellets so does anyone have suggestions?
(Scotts EcoSense Bug be Gone) This is a chrysanthemum liquid that you mix with water in a spray bottle..lasts a long time and it is made from Garden Mums so it is considered very safe..works like a charm..re-spray after a rain or every 3 to 4 days for serious infestation ..or for plants being attacked by beetles or grasshoppers...
Once you get Lupin Aphids they are hard to get rid of as the egg life cycle is actually in the ground...Big Ugly Suckers..however I have never seen this particular aphid go to any other plant and they might be a good thing...keeping them away from other plants...a sacrficial offering so to speak...(ie: many gardeners grow certain vegies to attract aphids away from other vegies..)
Oh Yes...I haven't noticed that these aphids actually harm the plant very much..although I do keep them under control..they come back every year..but they never spread to the other plants...(Apparently they are a lupin aphid) and unless I get close I can't see them so I figure heck whats the problem! and then I just use the Garden Mum spray to knock off a few of the beasts...OK so maybe a few means hundreds but it takes a few minutes and all is well...
Are you here in the UK? I can't find any stockists here - it seems to be mainly available in Canada.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I believe they are insecticides based on Pyrethrum which is extracted from Chrysanthemums and considered organic. The RHS have a list of products based on this in their 'pesticides for home use' pdf, here, for anyone looking (see page 3):
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/pdfs/pesticides-for-home-gardeners
Vitax PY and Scott's Bug Clear are commonly available brands in the UK.