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black fly

lyn joneslyn jones Posts: 15
in Problem solving

I have a problem with black fly this time of year on my broad beans and runner beans I used to use crop saver which was marvelous product but it got banned for some reason.I would like to know what method other gardeners use for this problem.  

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Posts

  • Jolly Gary the GardenerJolly Gary the Gardener Posts: 133

    I use Washing up liquid, the green one that is mild green watered down and use a standard water sprayer to spray the leaves of  my runner beans and sunflowers.works well for me

  • new grandadnew grandad Posts: 6

    pinch out the growing tip at first flowering

  • TyphooTyphoo Posts: 45

    Agree with both

  • lyn joneslyn jones Posts: 15

    Thanks for your reply with the spraying of washing up liquid what happens, does it dry  up the black fly eggs and fall off, or does it just clean them off.  

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    I direct sow my broad beans into the veg plot at the end of October, pinch out the growing tips when the first beans have set and never have a problem with blackfly.  We've had a fantastic crop this year, have eaten loads and have loads in the freezer. They've finished now and I'm just about to pull them up and plant the purple sprouting broccoli plants in their place.

    I've also never had a problem with blackfly on runner beans (so far - fingers crossed image) but if I get them on other plants I just wash them off with a jet from the hosepipe. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    Yes Edd, black fly like the tender new shoots of broad beans so if you pick them out (and steam them and eat them with butter) the blackfly don't notice them and ignore the beanplants.

    Don't know about the beans getting tougher - don't want that to happen image  I pick mine when they're sweet and tender image

    Also that's why I sow my broad beans in the autumn - that way they're more or less over (and in my tum or in the freezer) by the time the blackfly season starts image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Louise FentonLouise Fenton Posts: 2
    We've got them everywhere this year - parsnips, tomatoes, all over our pink poppies, beans. Is it a particularly bad year?! We can't spray the whole garden - it's huge!
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    Spray the things you really need to (eg runner & french beans) with a few drops of washing-up liquid in a sprayer and try and ignore the rest.  Ladybirds and other predators will soon appear and rapidly multiply to clear them up. image

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Louise FentonLouise Fenton Posts: 2
    Thanks Bob! We do seem to have nests of ladybirds all over the place as well, so glad to know they'll be coming to the rescue soon.
  • dahliaslavedahliaslave Posts: 17

    I just  run my fingers up the stem and  thus scoop up the black fly. I've noticed a lot of  new young blue tits and great tits on my plot hovering at plants to get insects so I hesitate to use soapy water.  I've also noticed lack of ladybirds, we usually have a lot as we're an organic allotment association.

     

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