Black Fly

[Rox]

I found my chamomile patch infested with black fly colonies this morning. Although I would have prepared doing something else at 6am, I proceeded to spray them off hard with a mister and squash some in the process  :-X Anyone know whether this is an effective way of controlling them? I'll spray pyrethrum if I have to, but thought this method might be worth a shot.... thx for any replies in advance  :)!!!

[Rox]

[kenkew]

Don't know about chamomile but beans are prone to blackfly. Best thing on beans is to nip the tops off when you have enough shoots. If you're going to spray at all, please do it very early morning or late evening. The rule is not to spray when the sun's up. Lots of goody creatures will be affected if you do.

[Doris_Pinks]

I grow nasturtiums in front of my beans, they seem to  prefer them to the beans! ;)

[wardy]

I usually do that Doris but forgot to order seeds. Have just got some.  They are prey to everything so make a good sacrificial crop to ward the nasties off your best stuff

[Doris_Pinks]

And you can eat the leaves and pickle the seeds if you are that way inclined! ;)

[Rox]

thx Dottie!  :D I have a circular raised bed completely full of nasturtiums next to my broad beans and near enough to the chamomile - I definitely noticed a shift in the blackfly behaviour this weekend - they have descended upon the nasturtiums with a vengeance and are leaving the broad beans alone enough, and the chamomile seems to have gotten better! I am trying to remove badly infected leaves and then squash the whole lot underfoot and dispose of in the garbage. Is this an effective way of dealing with them on nasturtiums, or does one normally have to spray them? (I don't have any flowers on mine yet, only the leaves).

[Doris_Pinks]

Rox, Thats probably the best way to get rid of them! I don't spray but pick leaves and squish same as you.