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Controlling white/green fly
Jayrm
Posts: 9
Good evening all,
I've just potted up this year's chilli seedlings, and they look good. However, my concern is controlling white and or green fly come the warner days. I've been told marigolds work, but I'm not convinced ! Has anyone got any great ideas, or better still proven methods you could share ? Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
0
Posts
Companion planting does significantly reduce white/ greenfly Jayrm. Marigolds attract predators as do tagettes. If you can't be bothered with that use a systemic insecticide suitable for edible crops.
I use Marigolds - especially between the courgettes and squash plants (outside) and they are brilliant at keeping the aphids away and the flowers reseed or you can collect the seed after the flowers have died and start the cycle again the following year. We try not to spray any of our crops - we put a net over the cabbage patch to stop the white butterflies, green caterpillars and pigeons from feasting on the plants.
Haven't found marigolds much use in the glasshouse, nor much else either, now that most effective pesticides are banned, in the garden yes, alongside runner beans etc.
I try to use my fingers as much as possible to control any aphids in the GH or a spray of water mixed with washing up liquid works to a certain extent too. Mostly it is all about ventilation in the GH although not on a cold damp day.
Chillies and aphids go together, so you can only manage the situation rather than eliminate the problem completely. Visual inspection and squishing between fingers rubbed along the leaf underside will help keep the problem under control.
French Marigolds / Tagetes to repel the pests, and Limnanthes douglassii Poached Egg Plant to encourage beneficial insects like hoverflies. And anything you can do to encourage and support ladybirds.
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/flowers/flower-seeds/marigold-seeds/marigold-tomato-growing-secret/299TM
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/flowers/flower-seeds/hardy-annual-seeds/limnanthes-douglasii/6444TM
Other seed companies are available.