Hi,
I have started growing artichoke for the first time and i have three flower heads ( which I'm not going to touch till next year) anyway there are a lot of black small aphids on them, I tried to rub them off only to realise there are thorns! ouch. I have used a fast hose to spray off but there are loads of them.
What I'm wondering is will they affect the growth of the plant and how do I get rid of them.
thanks for helping,
AC
I guess you mean globe artichokes, and I have a couple that are full of blackfly. however, it only seems to be on a couple, so I figure they can feast on them leaving me the rest. This is only a recent problem also, I harvested 12 heads before the first side shoot had blackfly. I can't hose them as I don't have a tap on site, and I won't use a spray as I am not worries about eating them. I don't think it will reduce the plants vigour all that much, but if in doubt, you can always cut the flower off and lob it on your compost heap.
my friend grow them on his plot - i actually think his artichoke has suffered because there are masses of the black stuff - complete with ants milking the 'cows'...
we have started hosing it off with a strong jet - he complained that didnt work but i reckon he didnt dare put the hose to strong 'spritz' ;D - we did and washed them all right off and didnt damage the plant. but i guess you would have to do it every day until they learn / move on.
svea
Yes EJ, a Globe Artichoke, I only have the one plant and all the chokes are covered. \I haven't used any spray yet but as soon as the new buds emerge they too are covered.
I'm wondering if I should cut the buds off as I'm not picking any this year. However I thought I needed to keep the buds on first year and not pick any. Wouldn't lopping them off be the same thing as harvesting?!
Sorry, confused!
The buds are the most nutritionally demanding part of any plant. Whether you harvest them or compost them they are still the biggest "sink" for the plants energy.Removing them can allow the plant to divert that energy into vegetative growth. Remove any more buds that appear too as this will hasten the rate of diversion.
Ok Thanks! Will remove buds and hopefully aphids/black ants with them and then the plant can continue to mature!
I find that spraying my roses and broad beans with a squeegy bottles works better than with a hose. The tiny jet dislodges the beesties instantaneously. It's a case of not being beaten by them and persevering. Of course your squeegy will need replenishing fairly quick but it DOES work. Good luck ! :D ;)
My choke has collapsed with the weight of all the fruits on it! Before it collapsed I noticed it was covered in black creepy crawlies but I think they were only pollen beetles :