Thats brilliant news thanks! I will order some immediately. I'm really happy to have found a natural solution. I will arm myself with some ladybird families & cinnamon!
I think I've mentioned this on another thread, but I haven't seen a single ladybird this year. Got excited a couple of times, but they were s***ing lily beetles. The only thing that's had a few probs with blackfly has been the philadelphus, and I've sort of kept them at bay with soft soap spray. I do have a lot of self seeded nasturtiums rambling round the beans etc, to act as sacrificial magnets for blackfly, but am seriously considering buying some ladybirds.
I don't use chemicals...well today I did. The kitchen sink drain blocked, and in the heat I just couldn't face degunking the smelly ubend by hand!
Don't have catch up ever so will google in a min and see what I am poisoning myself with!
The other thing you can do with broadbeans (bit late now) Is eat the tops before they get infested. Is it Pippa somebody on gardeners question time? She mentioned it. The plants don't need the tops and they are very tasty apparently. I know it doesn't help if the rest of the plant gets covered in blackfly but at least its one more thing you get to eat before they do lol.
Mabel have you planted Calendula to attract or Tagetes to deter. Both work
There is so much info out there of how to live with and work with nature I don't know why people still insist on blasting everything with poison.
And Eve the ladybirds are totally oblivious to the ants. You watch an ant trying to attack a ladybird it is like a foot soldier trying to bayonet a tank lol.
Posts
the larvae are a sight to see. nothing like a ladybird more like a tiny, tiny soft black scorpion.
Cool..
I will post pictures of my babies when I get them.
Thats brilliant news thanks! I will order some immediately. I'm really happy to have found a natural solution. I will arm myself with some ladybird families & cinnamon!
Thanks everyone!
I think I've mentioned this on another thread, but I haven't seen a single ladybird this year. Got excited a couple of times, but they were s***ing lily beetles. The only thing that's had a few probs with blackfly has been the philadelphus, and I've sort of kept them at bay with soft soap spray. I do have a lot of self seeded nasturtiums rambling round the beans etc, to act as sacrificial magnets for blackfly, but am seriously considering buying some ladybirds.
I don't use chemicals...well today I did. The kitchen sink drain blocked, and in the heat I just couldn't face degunking the smelly ubend by hand!
Hi addict. If you have catchup on your TV check out Monday 8/7 Channel 4 at 8.30, a programme called Food unwrapped.lol
Hi Eve, there is another post on these forums about ladybirds and one poster posted this link for ladybird food, in case you haven't seen it:
http://www.wildforms.co.uk/ladybird-attractant.html
All the best
Anne
Me again, I have actually found it with a much cheaper carriage charge on eBay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BENEFICIAL-INSECT-ATTRACTANT-FOOD-Ladybird-or-Lacewing-/200548810968?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Reptiles_Spiders_Insects&var=&hash=item2eb1a400d8
Hope that helps
Try planting marigolds near the plants that are covered with blackfly. I put them next to my broad beans and it seems to stop them getting infected.
Don't have catch up ever so will google in a min and see what I am poisoning myself with!
The other thing you can do with broadbeans (bit late now) Is eat the tops before they get infested. Is it Pippa somebody on gardeners question time? She mentioned it. The plants don't need the tops and they are very tasty apparently. I know it doesn't help if the rest of the plant gets covered in blackfly but at least its one more thing you get to eat before they do lol.
Mabel have you planted Calendula to attract or Tagetes to deter. Both work
There is so much info out there of how to live with and work with nature I don't know why people still insist on blasting everything with poison.
And Eve the ladybirds are totally oblivious to the ants. You watch an ant trying to attack a ladybird it is like a foot soldier trying to bayonet a tank lol.