[rictic]

I am told that by boiling rhubarb or nettle leaves an effective spray against blacfly, whitefly etc can be made.  If so what amount of leaves do I need to boil to produce the correct strength solution? Does anyone use this themselves?

Keep the faith.

Rictic.

[Sharon]

Quote from Grow your own veg by Joy Larkcom...
Chop up 1.4kg/3lb rhubarb leaves. Boil for 1/2 hour in 3.5litres/6 pints water. Strain off liquid and cool. Dissolve 28g/1oz soapflakes in 1.2litres/2 pints water, mix with the rhubarb liquid and spray.
It also says that using such mixtures is illegal under current EU legislation. (my copy 2002, so might have changed since).
Hope this helps.

[Spon]

I put a number of rhubarb leaves in a tub of water and let them rot down I did not boil the leaves.
On return from holiday I found my ruuner beans were covered in blackfly. I mixed a little soapy water into the rhubarb leaf tea and sprayed the beans with the mixture. The results were quite impressive and I would use this method again in future.
Besides which - if it is against EU law then it must be worth doing!