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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: simhop on June 25, 2004, 09:04:29

Title: Black Fly
Post by: simhop on June 25, 2004, 09:04:29
Apologies to any members of Motley Fool who will have seen this cry for help already but last night I picked more of my gorgeous Rubarb and discovered the leaves covered in thousands of black fly. They don't seem to be doing much damage to the rubarb as it seems to be growing quite strongly but I am worried about the possibility of the spread to other vegetables growing nearby.
Is that likely or will they stay happy where they are?
Does anyone know they best way to get rid of them - I want to be enviromentally friendly as possible - I think i recall reading that liquid nettle manure helps against insects but is it strong enough to get rid of the black fly?
Finally is it ok to put the rubabr leaves in the compost or should i wash them off first.

Thanks
simon
Title: Re:Black Fly
Post by: tim on June 25, 2004, 09:11:08
An opinion.
1. Probably.
2. Jet them off.
3. OK!
Tim
Title: Re:Black Fly
Post by: cleo on June 25, 2004, 22:09:11
oh such sweet irony-as they like rhubarb so much simmer some leaves in a little water,strain,add a drop or two of washing up liquid then fill a small sprayer and see how they like that ;D

Stephan.
Title: Re:Black Fly
Post by: Muddy_Boots on June 25, 2004, 22:24:26
Not rhubarb, Steph, but have em on me runners!  As not too many, just keep squishing them, is that good enough?  :D
Title: Re:Black Fly
Post by: simhop on June 25, 2004, 22:32:16
I wish I could just squish them off but there are thousands of them.
Bloody blackfly
Title: Re:Black Fly
Post by: tim on June 26, 2004, 06:28:53
Squish to your heart's content, MB - so long as your back allows!

That's the way we're dealing with the aphid in the greenhouse. = Tim
Title: Re:Black Fly
Post by: Doris_Pinks on June 26, 2004, 16:20:32
MB  I grow nasturtiums in front of my runners, the black fly seem to think this is caviar compared to the beans! I have vitually black fly free beans, and nasturtiums covered in blackfly!
Title: Re:Black Fly
Post by: Multiveg on June 26, 2004, 19:13:30
Doris - I remember asking my father for some space on the plot for nasturtiums - one year, as they self seed, a patch of the plants died - they were covered in blackfly, but there was not a single one on the french beans.
Title: Re:Black Fly
Post by: tim on June 26, 2004, 19:21:29
Do wish they would leave the nasturtiums alone!! = Tim
Title: Re:Black Fly
Post by: Doris_Pinks on June 26, 2004, 21:13:33
Better the nasturtiums than my beans Tim! ;D
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