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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: jordsbabe on July 25, 2008, 19:45:26

Title: Black Fly
Post by: jordsbabe on July 25, 2008, 19:45:26
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.

Title: Re: Black Fly
Post by: Fork on July 25, 2008, 20:04:41
Squish them with your fingers!
Title: Re: Black Fly
Post by: Georgie on July 25, 2008, 20:24:48
Quote from: Fork on July 25, 2008, 20:04:41
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
Title: Re: Black Fly
Post by: jordsbabe on July 25, 2008, 20:32:48
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
Title: Re: Black Fly
Post by: Georgie on July 25, 2008, 20:46:40
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

Title: Re: Black Fly
Post by: jordsbabe on July 25, 2008, 21:04:54
Thanks Georgie, I am dull at times! I don't want to use chemicals either x
Title: Re: Black Fly
Post by: Tyke on July 25, 2008, 21:25:05
Quote from: Georgie on July 25, 2008, 20:46:40
  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.
Title: Re: Black Fly
Post by: Fork on July 25, 2008, 21:28:49
Squish the little b*****s and then use the soft soap to wash your hands!  ;) ;D ;D
Title: Re: Black Fly
Post by: KathrynH on July 25, 2008, 21:34:34
I've found the organic pest spray available fron The Organic Gardening catalogue quite effective and it wont harm ladybirds.
Title: Re: Black Fly
Post by: jordsbabe on July 25, 2008, 21:48:00
Quote from: Fork on July 25, 2008, 21:28:49
Squish the little b*****s and then use the soft soap to wash your hands!  ;) ;D ;D
[/quote

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!