[Nugget]

i only in my second year on the allotment, and have broad beans which i planted in april and some are covered in blackfly, which is the best way to get rid of and what prevents it, its not on all the plants just a couple but could it spread? What if i was to plant them in the autumn would that stop it?

Thanks in advance for any help,
Nugget

[DD.]

Hello Nugget,

This thread may help....

http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=5017

[Nugget]

Cheers Digger Dave guessed it would be on the forum somewhere just couldnt be bothered to look  

[duncan]

i only in my second year on the allotment, and have broad beans which i planted in april and some are covered in blackfly, which is the best way to get rid of and what prevents it, its not on all the plants just a couple but could it spread? What if i was to plant them in the autumn would that stop it?

Thanks in advance for any help,
Nugget

soapy water in a spray bottle

[hotterotter]

Overwintering is suppposed to help a bit the logic being that the plants are tougher having been chilled and grown more slowly in the colder weather, making them less attractive to blackfly. To overwinter beans successfully you need a soil that doesn't get waterlogged in winter and also have a mild enough climate, but it has to be pretty cold to kill them.

One treatment I've heard on here, I think from Muntjac is to spray with tobbaco water (1/2 ounce soaked in 5 pints water? something like that). It presumbly would kill ladybirds etc as well though as nicotene is very poisonous. I've shyed away from using this as my broad beans have lots of ladybird larva on them too, which will hopefully go on to eat aphids on my plot long after the beans are gone.

[Tom]

Hi Nugget I've heared that ladybirds eat blackfly! So collect a few in your garden and just release them in the allotment!    

[Nugget]

cheers all, i think the soapy water in the bottle will be good to try and then overwinter next year.

Like the idea of the ladybirds Tom, i will hunt them down   , i see from your profile you not to far from me, im in swindon every thursday for the speedway  

[Tom]

You like speedway do ya. I'm not reallya fan but i've hered there on about buliding a new track!  

[Nugget]

yeah and plans have been approved for the new stadium recently, should be good especially as we are favourites for this years championship title  

[crichmond]

I started mine in the greenhouse this year after losing the entire crop last year (last year was my first year on the plot) I planted them out about 3 weeks ago and havent had any on them, although I have had them on my artichokes but have used spray for that.

Cheers Chris