Best way to deal with blackfly please?

yummy · « **on:** May 21, 2007, 22:04 »

My broad beans have clumps of black fly on them.

I've done some reading tonight. I'm not sure I should pinch the tips off yet cos I'm sure they have a bit of growing to do still.

I've seen a few suggestions on the Internet but thought I would ask you guys how you deal with them cos you will know what worked for you.

I'd rather avoid chemicals if poss but will use them if nothing else is going to save my beans.

Thanks

corndolly · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2007, 22:28 »

Definitely pinch out the growing tips, if you had done it earlier, you probably would have no blackfly now.

You may still get the plants to bush out and get 2 pickings from your beans.

If the beans dont set on the new shoots that grow ,you can use the tops , they are a delicious veg , a bit like spinach.

I have tried soft soap and rhubarb leaves, even cigerette ends soaked and diluted then sprayed over plants but :-

Pinching out the tips is the best way forward and hope ladybirds will arrive soon to gobble up any leftovers.

loubylou29 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2007, 07:38 »

Is this just with broad beans or with all pea type plants? (Legumes?) I have noticed a few blackfly on the end of my pea plants, I wasn't sure if they were harmful or not... I do have marigolds growing, but nowhere near flowering yet, I will prob have to buy a few! (saw some yesterday)
So should I ppinch out tips or not?? help please!

yummy · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2007, 10:21 »

Quote from: "corndolly"

Definitely pinch out the growing tips, if you had done it earlier, you probably would have no blackfly now.

.

Oh right. I'd no idea we were supposed to have done that.

Haven't been on plot for a week due to illness, wedding etc so only noticed the blackfly today.

yummy · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2007, 10:26 »

Quote from: "loubylou29"

I do have marigolds growing, but nowhere near flowering yet, I will prob have to buy a few!

I have loads too but likewise they are not flowering yet.

Aidy · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2007, 11:40 »

I just read somewhere but cant remember if you make an infussion with rhubarb leaves and spray them.

sclarke624 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 22, 2007, 14:51 »

Yummy see if this helps scroll down to Annie.Blackfly

I know when I grew nasturiams (however you spell the word) they were covered in black fly.

Trillium · « **Reply #7 on:** May 22, 2007, 15:27 »

I don't get blackfly over here, but the nasturtiums sure dragged in every leaf miner in the country, so I no longer grow nasturtiums.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #8 on:** May 22, 2007, 18:09 »

As I've just said on another thread The text book time to pinch out broad beans is when the bottom flowers have started to set a pod.

yummy · « **Reply #9 on:** May 22, 2007, 18:43 »

Quote from: "Aunt Sally"

As I've just said on another thread The text book time to pinch out broad beans is when the bottom flowers have started to set a pod.

Ah ok thanks. They haven't yet I don't think. Will check later to be sure.

Puff · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2007, 10:18 »

We were one day late with pinching out the tops. One evening , perfectly clear, not a blackfly in sight, the next evening - "Welcome To World of Blackfly"

Not pods set either, so we thought we'd be ok for another day. But no. It was getting too dark to see, hence waiting until the next day. Next year I'll take a torch with me.

Last night, I made up a couple of litres of seriously* strong tea and added a bit of washing up liquid, sprayed the lot. I read about this somewhere on the forum, but no one had come to any conclusions about it working or not.

Will keep you posted about the results.

*25 tea bags to 2 litres of water (yuck)

Puff · « **Reply #11 on:** May 27, 2007, 13:40 »

UPDATE:

Looks like the disgusting tea/washing up liquid concoction worked. Tonight, every blackfly was dead. I swilled as many as possible off 'em off with water as I wasn't too keen on several million decaying blackfly corpses being left around the flowers and stems. They are seriously sticky, ugh.

I'm going to keep a close watch on this.

Do blackfly strike more than once?

Should I respray to keep them off?

noshed · « **Reply #12 on:** May 27, 2007, 21:28 »

A lot of people on our site, me included, have just dug our beans up, the infestation has been so bad.
But it has left room to plant more tomataoes...

ziggywigs · « **Reply #13 on:** May 27, 2007, 22:05 »

Yes they will be back and in greater number....tee hee.

I use garlic spray in water with a smidgeon of washing up liquid. The smell seems to keep them away for longer. Works the same as Rhubarb leaves too. Longer you leave it to steep the stronger the smell.

I've zapped my brassicas today with it cos i haven't got mi netting up and sorted...should confuse the cabbage whites a bit.

Aidy · « **Reply #14 on:** May 29, 2007, 12:33 »

Well by my reckoning having given them 2 blasts with the rhubarb tea it dont work, going to try the strong tea method next.

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Best way to deal with blackfly please?

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