[rikknikk]

I went to buy a spray with pyrethroid for my broad beans but could not find one that had that on the packaging, the shops sell lots of sprays that seem to cover all sort of bugs for veg, are these good to use?

[paintedlady]

most "bug" problems are aphids - a dilute solution of washing up liquid sprayed on them will be fine and not pose a threat to bees visiting the flowers and ladybirds feeding off the aphids    Indiscriminate bug spray can be very harmful to all insects including the beneficial ones.

[mumofstig]

Picking of the soft top growth of broad beans usually removes all the blackfly, if that's what the problem is


Py spray is one brand usually stocked in garden centres
link

[JayG]

I'm not entirely sure about the legality of home-made insecticides but if you find yourself washing out your sprayer with a teaspoon of washing up liquid in a litre of water and inadvertently forget to empty it out and then absent-mindedly find yourself spraying your aphid-infested plants you will find that it really does work! 

[rikknikk]

Thanks for all your feedbback, I will try the washing up liquid then!

[boosh]

most "bug" problems are aphids - a dilute solution of washing up liquid sprayed on them will be fine and not pose a threat to bees visiting the flowers and ladybirds feeding off the aphids    Indiscriminate bug spray can be very harmful to all insects including the beneficial ones.

Would the soapy spray work against cabbage white caterpillars ?

[zazen999]

Would the soapy spray work against cabbage white caterpillars ?

If only!

But add some chilli and garlic whizzed into water, soaked overnight and strained into the same sprayer and you'll be onto a winner.

ALL the old boys on my lottie now do this, after the first year when they looked on in sympathy at me and all my cabbage whites disappeared overnight.

[boosh]

Would the soapy spray work against cabbage white caterpillars ?

If only!

But add some chilli and garlic whizzed into water, soaked overnight and strained into the same sprayer and you'll be onto a winner.

ALL the old boys on my lottie now do this, after the first year when they looked on in sympathy at me and all my cabbage whites disappeared overnight.

I will give this a go, Thank you