Greenfly on my blackcurrent !!!

[Losos]

Hello folks, yes it's early in the season but two branches on one bush and one branch on a second bush have an infestation of greenfly on the tips (It always seems to be the tips that get it)

I don't have any chemical spray and SWMBO won't let me use it even if I did have some

So I have tried soapy water applied with a soft brush. I used a 50:50 ratio

My question to anyone out there who has used this method is what mix of liquid soap to water should I use ???

I also have an old sprayer which I might use in future ('cos I'm sure these greenfly blighters will be back ) Again what ratio of liquid soap to water would you advise ???

Any advice would be most appreciated - cheers Losos

[Losos]

Had a look this morning,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,seems to have worked 'tho still a few ants crawling up and down the branches.

How do you tell if a greenfly is dead ? It's not like they move around much anyway haha.

I made up a new solution and put it in an old Bayer spray bottle but TBH using the brush seemed to be more effective and definately was able to get right to the greenfy, the spray wasted a lot and sprayed areas where there was no problem.

One thing I did notice was a new branch was infected this morning which was clear last night so the little nasties appear to breed incredibly fast :roll:

I can see I'll have to check the bushes every day haha.

[Jungle Jane]

You could crush a clove of garlic into a spray bottle of water,let it infuse for a bit,then add a five pence size of soap,doesn’t need much. The ants are farming the aphids,they carry them to the plants they want to take over. Do you have any ladybirds? Sometimes the ladybird nymphs blend into the colour of the aphids & it’s not easy to see them because they’re tiny & black.

[Losos]

You could crush a clove of garlic into a spray bottle of water,let it infuse for a bit,then add a five pence size of soap,doesn’t need much. The ants are farming the aphids,they carry them to the plants they want to take over. Do you have any ladybirds? Sometimes the ladybird nymphs blend into the colour of the aphids & it’s not easy to see them because they’re tiny & black.

Thanks JJ - OH is very keen that I do not damage the ladybirds. So far as I could see there were none around.

I didn't realise the ants actually carry the aphids up to the soft young growth which is where I see them.

Nice tip about the garlic, I'll see if we have any at home or OH can buy some on next food shop (I'm not allowed out 'cos I'm in the 'high risk' group :roll

[Plot70]

I would tackle the ants. If the greenfly do not stick to a plant the ants will remove all the soil from under the roots or even burrey the leaves to exclude the light depending in the type of plant.
Shop bought ant powder does not work. You need to find the nest and cover the area with plastic sheeting and then spray a good dose of insect spray under it and leave it for a couple of hours.
I have just done a nest. I raked it over and found the eggs and sprayed them at close range. The ants pick the eggs up and run around with them in there mouths. Getting the eggs good and wet with spray did it in two waves a day apart.

[Losos]

I would tackle the ants. If the greenfly do not stick to a plant the ants will remove all the soil from under the roots or even burrey the leaves to exclude the light depending in the type of plant.
Shop bought ant powder does not work. You need to find the nest and cover the area with plastic sheeting and then spray a good dose of insect spray under it and leave it for a couple of hours.
I have just done a nest. I raked it over and found the eggs and sprayed them at close range. The ants pick the eggs up and run around with them in there mouths. Getting the eggs good and wet with spray did it in two waves a day apart.

Thanks Plot70 some good ideas there, I never considered going for the ants but it does make sense if they are responsible for the aphids on the blackcurrent branches and anyway they are not good to have around fruit bushes anyway.

[Losos]

crush a clove of garlic into a spray bottle of water,let it infuse for a bit

Hi JJ 0 Well my wife bought a clove of garlic in TESCO yesterday so ready to try your suggestion.

But where do you think this tiny item came from :?:

CHINA how stupid is that, a Boeing 747 loads up with fuel, and a flight crew of at least four and flies all the way to CHINA to load up with some cloves of garlic grrrrrrrrrrr

OK Obviously they load up with a lot more than just a few cloves of garlic but it still amazes me that we are doing such ridiculous things after all I could grow garlic in my garden and I'm certain it could be grown in England without having to transport it from CHINA and I would be more than willing to pay a few extra pence to buy UK produce.

And does this Coronavirus thingy stick to vegatables as well as metal and paper :?: Am I safe using it crushed up in my soapy water solution to use on the aphids on my blackberries bushes.