Topic: Blackfly Bashing is Bloody Boring?

[tim]

EVERY day on the broadies & Cardoons. And Emma has them on the Runners?

Water jet + Ecover + finger & thumb.

[Obelixx]

The biorythmic architect on the Highgate allotment of the Big Dig made a spray by soaking loose tobacco in water then straining it and applying it to her broad beans.   They had no blackfly as they don't like the pong.  Must be worth a try.

[tim]

I can well believe that - but another hassle!!

[Robert_Brenchley]

It'll be more than the pong if she was using nicotine; it's extremely poisonous (it used to kill careless gardeners regularly), and quite illegal. I'm surprised they showed it.

[tim]

To think that, in the olden days, I used to fumigate with nicotine shreds. Regarded as quite a safe thing then. So long as you could hold your breath at the far end of the 30' 'house while lighting it!!!

[supersprout]

Lottie neighbour yesterday:

Him: I've got some spray left, do you want anything spraying (brandishes spray gun)
Me: Is it roundup?
Him: No, it's for whitefly
Me: O, what have you got whitefly on?
Him: Cabbage, caulis, beans, peas, carrots (runs through long list)
Me: Hang on a mo (quick inspection of plot) no thank you Tony, I don't have any whitefly :)
Him: Sez you
Me: Honest
Him: It'll do for blackfly too
Me: Hang on a mo (quick inspection of plot) no thank you, I don't seem to have any blackfly either :o
Him: Harrumph (exit pursued by a bear)

Happy, happy, happy - compensation for 24 years of fly-encrusted beans ;D But why are there are no flies on my plottie (so far) this year ??? Later planting? Dry conditions? Wider paths? More flowers? More ladybirds? I wish I knew

[Sprout]

I've got one broad bean plant plus a little one which somehow must have seeded themsevles from the plot next to mine and which until this weekend was derelict. No other broad beans for 'miles' but they're still covered in the little blighters.

[Robert_Brenchley]

They don't seem to do anty real harm if you leave them, or alternatively you could use the tips in a stirfry rather than having all the bother of spraying. I just leave them to the ever-vigilant tit patrol.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Blimey, there's a naughty word the censor missed!

[tim]

Have to repeat this - if you take out the tips when you first get fly, you're going to lose a LOT of beans??
And, once again a water jet!!