[TimGuyUK]

So my broad beans are only about a foot tall but have black fly.

I read about pitching out the middles, can you do that on growing plants or plants that are only at their optimal height?

Should I do it to 1 foot high plants?

Cheers

Tim

[Diggerpete]

What variety are they, if they're a dwarf variety with plenty of flower on them you could pinch out the tops, if not and you don't want to use a chemical spray you could use soapy water and rub the blackfly off by hand depending on how many plants you have but they will come back again. Try planting early in the season next year, this means  that the plants are big before the fly gets on them and then you can pinch out the tops. I'm no expert but this works for me!

[Annen]

I sprayed and washed mine with soapy water and it seemed to hold the aphids off until the plant got a bit bigger.

[Headgardener22]

Are they flowering?

[TimGuyUK]

Hi

They are Dwarf (Ummm not sure which  )

They were planet late I admit. They aren't flowing yet so I'm  give them ago with soapy water.

I think Ive got about 30+ so could take awhile. Can you be fairly  heavy handed with them?

Tim

[sunshineband]

Hi

They are Dwarf (Ummm not sure which  )

They were planet late I admit. They aren't flowing yet so I'm  give them ago with soapy water.

I think Ive got about 30+ so could take awhile. Can you be fairly  heavy handed with them?

Tim

Just make sure you don't break the stems. I find rubbing the blackfly off with soapy hands better than squirting them, and I use enough force to move them

[Goosegirl]

I've read that a lot of people on here are having trouble with blackfly this year. Just been out to mine and - not a one! Sorry - not being smug at all but a bit puzzled as to why I'm ok and others aren't. Not complaining either.

[LottyLouis]

Goosegirl - I totally agree - it's all a bit random. My broad beans on my allotment are ravaged - but rallying. My broad beans at home are fine - but I have a few blackfly on a few plants at one end of the row here at home. ONLY at the one end of the row - everything else is clear. Bonkers!   

[AnneB]

I've read that a lot of people on here are having trouble with blackfly this year. Just been out to mine and - not a one! Sorry - not being smug at all but a bit puzzled as to why I'm ok and others aren't. Not complaining either.

I have noticed that those reporting aphid problems, and particularly blackfly on broad beans are in the southern half of the country in the main.   Here in Bradford, my Wizard field beans sown in situ the first week in November are now around 5' tall, full of flowers and small pods and not a blackfly in sight.  Looks as if it will be the best crop I have ever had.   On the other hand, I have had to start again from scratch with courgettes and beans as all were ruined by wind and cold, just so I don't sound too smug!