[Markjp]

My Purple Sprouting Broccoli and Calabrese are quite heavily infested with the Mealy Cabbage Aphid. I have sprayed them this evening with ready made Organic Pest Control spray which contains fatty acids. This is quite hard work and difficult to get good coverage, plus I've used the whole sprayer in one application.

I do have a pressure sprayer, but can you buy an organic insecticide concentrate? Or does anyone know of a homemade solution.

Thanks

Mark

[New shoot]

No idea if this works on mealy aphids, but if you boil up nettles you get an infusion that can be strained and sprayed. It removes the outer protective skin on soft bodied insects, so they dessicate in the sun.

Failing that you can make your own soap & oil concoction by mixing 1 teaspoon washing up liquid with 1 cup vegetable oil. Shake up together and add 1 quart water. This clogs their breathing holes up.

These are both contact treatments, so you will need to get as much coverage as you can. 

Other deterrants you could use to keep the little blighters off are garlic (boil up, strain and add to either of the above)  or used coffee grounds - sprinkle over plants.

New Shoot 

[pushrod]

I do have a pressure sprayer, but can you buy an organic insecticide concentrate? Or does anyone know of a homemade solution.

Thanks

Mark

I believe Pyrethrum flowers soaked in water makes an insecticide, adding a bit of liquid soap will increase its "sticking" power.