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Talkback: Blackfly on broad beans

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
I have had an invasion of black fly on my broad beans, Have companion planted and in the end I SPRAYED them and still they stayed. As both sides to me on the allotment have just started, they both had weeds so I put this down to this factor.
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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I wonder if wasps also eat the blackfly as our beans are clean this year but we have 2 wasp nests one in a concrete bird box & one in an old dovecote.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    If I am to continue growing Vegs I must get a way of controlling SLUGS. Would it help if I grew a lot of Garlic on the edges of the beds and in rows in the beds? Help needed
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    slugs are too greedy - i expect to lose 20% to them but this year they have taken the biscuit - well actually they have taken about 60% of my vegetables - surely this means war!!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I'm interested in the suggestion that a spray of water and household detergent should see off blackfky from recently planted broad beans. I have just planted a crop to mature over the winter and they are under attack! Can any one suggest the best water to detergent mix to ensure the demise of the fly but avoids any problems for the plant or soil. But HURRY!! Please!!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    This year I have been avoiding using detergent and have been washing off the blackfly using a tissue soaked in anti-blackfly water - which is basically a pint glass of water in which I have left a cut up shallot and a crushed clove of garlic to soak. It smells pungent enough to me and it seems to have kept them from coming back!!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    i tried the detegent thing on my beans last year but found that the leaves tended to dry up. any suggestions for a vinegar solution?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    we are growing some spectacular broad beans in our school garden, blackfly have now appeared but after following the advice found here re. using diluted washing up liquid solution we've found that the leaves and flowers have shrivelled somewhat and are turning slightly black! i wonder if the solution we made was too concentrated, could you please let me know quantities used
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have heard that a plant called Borridge - Borrige keeps blackfly away - apparently it has a small blue flower that is sometimes used in Pimms - does anyone know anything about this plant and where I can get it ??
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    my sister got some borrige from a neighbour who had not heard about its effects but had 2 cherry trees - one thriving with Borrige growing under it and the other covered in blackfly with shrivelled leaves - they now agree that this may be the reason for the marked difference betweeen the 2 trees.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I had to laugh about the borage idea. I companion planted borage next to my runner beans to attract bees. It was so infested with blackfly by mid july I just pulled it up as it was beyond help!I have had a serious problem this year- all over my cucumbers, courgettes, squash, sweetcorn! and even marigolds- must be the hot, dry weather- you just can't win!
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