Black Fly

[jordsbabe]

I have black fly on my runner beans, i believe that you can spray them with soapy water but they are right by the flowers, will that harm my beans. I also have one ladybird, and ladybirds are good i think, so i don't want to be spraying that do i?

Any help much appreciated.

[jordsbabe]

[Fork]

Squish them with your fingers!

[Georgie]

Squish them with your fingers!

Or if you can't face doing that then just blast them off the plant with a hosepipe.  :)  Or you could just move the ladybird and use a soft soap spray as you suggest - it won't harm the flowers.

G x

[jordsbabe]

Yuk! squish them with my fingers!!! need to get the four year old onto that!!

Soft Soap? I take it thats not washing up liquid then?  :o

[Georgie]

Soft soap is soap, whereas washing up liquid is detergent and full of chemicals.  I don't use chemicals in my garden but if you don't mind, washing up liquid will work.  If you don't want to use chemicals, you can get soft soap from garden centres or use diluted pure soap flakes. 

G x

[jordsbabe]

Thanks Georgie, I am dull at times! I don't want to use chemicals either x

[Tyke]

  I don't use chemicals in my garden

mmm...everything is made of chemicals! everything!

But seriously, i know what you mean. I have used organic sprays on blackfly when they have swarmed on my plants and it doesn't seem to do anything to them. I don't squash them, but run my fingers around the flowers on my runners and pull them off the plant - seems to work for a while.

[Fork]

Squish the little b*****s and then use the soft soap to wash your hands!  ;) ;D ;D

[KathrynH]

I've found the organic pest spray available fron The Organic Gardening catalogue quite effective and it wont harm ladybirds.

[jordsbabe]

Squish the little b*****s and then use the soft soap to wash your hands!  ;) ;D ;D
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LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!