[aelf]

They seem to be eating everything this year - even the leaves of my plum tree!! 

[peapod]

Im finding a load in my garden, but not at the plot fortunately, and they are staying around the pond. 

(They dont seems to have spotted my toms yet so  I'll shush)

[Casey76]

Apparantly the weather in the UK has meant the worst aphid outbreak in 25 years...

So pleased I'm not in the UK at the moment 

[Sue33]

Apparantly the weather in the UK has meant the worst aphid outbreak in 25 years...

i'm glad it's not just me then, our allotments are covered with them but there is also loads of ladybirds, there's only one thing for it "FIGHT"     come on the ladybirds 

[aelf]

Apparantly the weather in the UK has meant the worst aphid outbreak in 25 years...

So pleased I'm not in the UK at the moment 

I'll send you some, if you like? 

[Casey76]

No thanks  I'll be generous and let you keep them all :hugs:

[Mitsy]

Its been really bad here. Lost a few plants already 

[mumofstig]

Worst for me are the lettuce.......eurgh You have to be really, really careful how you wash and rinse them, unless you fancy the extra protein

[home made pie]

Worst for me are the lettuce.......eurgh You have to be really, really careful how you wash and rinse them, unless you fancy the extra protein

It's broccoli that worries me, I love the stuff but how do I know if it's not full of little bugs 

We have a lot more greenfly & whitefly this year and worst of all red money spiders...they are everywhere, there is even one inside my laptop screen crawling up and down happy as Larry 

[barney rubble]

what a cheeky little so and so - how is he avoiding the electrics and static I wonder?

Re broccoli, I've filled sinks with water before and left the broc in there for a few minutes. then take the stalk and with the head under water, twizzle it very fast between the palms of your hand. The fast back and forth motion can also shake them out under water. The cooking also obviously kills them, and occasionally you will see them floating on top of simmering water

[bluealf]

[quote author=mumofstig link=topic=40535.msg479910#msg479910 date=1246630334

It's broccoli that worries me, I love the stuff but how do I know if it's not full of little bugs 


[/quote]


Place the broccoli in a bowl of cold salty water for 15mins then blanch them 2-3mins in boiling water and then in to iced water.

Bugs should be long gone, i read this on a blanching website last night, in prep for all my left over veg  

[home made pie]

what a cheeky little so and so - how is he avoiding the electrics and static I wonder?

Must admit I was baffled to see the little fellow in there, but at least you believe me, no one else believes my 'red spider mite story'

Cheers for broccoli washing tips you guys 

[jolly jen]

blackfly runied my braod beans,tryed spraying the with fairy liquid mix,pinched the tops off,,did work,
the ladybirds couldnt keep up with them.starting to apear on the new unnerbean growth now..*!

[barney rubble]

Is it the black fly that lays black eggs - I've found lots of that under my seedlins leaves over the past couple of days. i do a regular bug rub, but its getting a bit worrying now, and may have to resort to the spray gun, even tho I don't really want chemicals

[kittiwake]

A tip I learned from my wild food cookery course is put veg with possible crawlies in a large bowl of water with a small amount of washing up liquid. In pure water the bugs can sometimes survive the immersion as small airpockets can form around them due to surface tension. With washing up liquid the surface tension is destroyed, the water blockes their spiracles (breathing tubes ) and they drown and will float. Leave the veg soaking for 10 mins and rinse really well. There will be no more soap on you veg than the residue you might have on your plate after doing the dishes.

Kitti