[thetwinsmum]

Hello,

I bought some 'Ultimate Bug Killer' spray from the Garden Center last year for use on my roses. I have just noticed that my parsnips & nastursiams are covered in blackfly in my raised bed.

I've looked on the instructions & it can be used to control blackfly but there is no mention of root crops - will it still be alright to use on them & how many treatments? You can use it on tomatoes, courgettes, fruit, lettuces etc - but no mention of parnips??

Please help as they appear really healthy at the moment 

Thank you

[Paul Plots]

Blackfly on parsnips?

I have never seen parsnips plastered with blackfly. Maybe that's why parsnips rarely want to appear on my plot!!  :blink:

I think I would try a very hefty squirt with the hose before spraying with anything more than water.

I'm sure someone will know better though. 

[thetwinsmum]

Thanks Learner.

I've been back out to inspect the little visitors & I'm sure it is black fly. The nasturtium stems are absolutely covered & they seem to have bypassed the carrots but because the row of nasturtiums is quite sparse I think they've tried to find an alternative! & gone for the parsnips.

I've blasted them with the hose & I'll see how they appear over the next few days. 

Thanks again 

[sclarke624]

I like nasturtiums but won't grow them anymore because they get smothered in black fly. I've heard  people have them so the black fly goes to them and leaves your other stuff alone, but I have my suspicions they attract them.

[Lottiegob]

We've got blackfly on every runner bean plant- never seen this before, yet climbing french beans have none. We have nasturtiums as companion plants but none have landed on those - curious

[Paul Plots]

Thanks Learner.

I've been back out to inspect the little visitors & I'm sure it is black fly. The nasturtium stems are absolutely covered & they seem to have bypassed the carrots but because the row of nasturtiums is quite sparse I think they've tried to find an alternative! & gone for the parsnips.

I've blasted them with the hose & I'll see how they appear over the next few days. 

Thanks again 

If this doesn't work try a dilute spray of washing up liquid.... they hate the stickiness and it discourages the ants from carrying them all over the place too!

[kingdhesiii]

I plant plenty of nasturtiums so that the black fly attack this and nothing else. Always wrks a treat.

[thetwinsmum]

Thanks everyone - I'm going to try the washing up liquid this evening.

[JayG]

I can understand some aspects of companion planting like plants which repel certain insects (tagetes/whitefly), or even plants used to mask the smell of a neighbouring plant to avoid attracting pests (alliums/carrots) but I've never really "got" this nasturtium/aphid thing; although blackfly might well prefer nasturtiums to beans you have still created a huge, healthy aphid colony where there wasn't one before!

I've managed to get rid of them on runner beans using the washing up liquid routine but it's much more difficult when the colony has really got established.

Might be "run and hide" time now!

[Pompey Spud]

I planted Nasturtiams as well. Worked a treat as well.

No black fly on beans.

Plus i plant loads of marigolds as well...guess what...that works as well.

[mumofstig]

I have Nastutiams and marigolds ....................and loads of blackfly on the runners 

Can somebody please tell them that they are not supposed to be there 

S'ok...I only grow the flowers cos they is pretties..........I don't really expect them to
keep the flies away 

[Paul Plots]

I have Nastutiams and marigolds ....................and loads of blackfly on the runners 

Can somebody please tell them that they are not supposed to be there 

S'ok...I only grow the flowers cos they is pretties..........I don't really expect them to
keep the flies away 

Pretty? Pretty? Who has a lottie plot for pretty!!!  :blink:   

Me 
Nothing wrong with aesthetically pleasing in MHO 

[ian.ford]

I have had the same problem with the blackfly on my parsnips and i spayed them with "Bugoff" and this done the job.

[Maxine Groobey]

This is the first year I haven't had blackly on my broad beans, on closer inspection they all seem to be on my borage so maybe that's having the 'nasturtiums' effect! Don't understand it myself but hey, if it works don't knock it! :happy:

[Salmo]

Provado Ultimate Bug Killer is a systemic insectacide i.e. one that is absorbed by the plants
and lasts for some time. If it is not listed for parsnips, either the manufacturers have not gone to the expense of testing or they have found a problem with it, such as tainting the roots. Either way it is not approved for use on parsnips.

If you do not succeed with washing off then try one of the pyrethroid based sprays such as Scotts Bug Clear which are contact action with little persistance. There are also various organic fatty acid based sprays on the market but I have no experience of them. Perhaps someone else has used them and can comment?