Strawberries covered in aphids

[dominic10]

I'm sure this is not a new thing. Unfortunately, while I have been busy sorting out the allotment I now find I have I think greenfly all over my strawberry bed. Just been reading an article by Monty Don about using pesticides - not keen but squashing the blighters is not an option -too many. I've snipped off quite a few of the leaves. In the past I have only had roses at the front of the house affected and if I could be bothered I sprayed them with a soapy solution. But would really appreciate advice about the strawberries.

[Bigmallly]

Hope this helps Dom.

Aphid control, how to get rid of Aphids.

[Leeds_lad]

Washing up liquid mixed with water and sprayed onto the bugs and leaves daily works like a treat.

[Bigmallly]

Good cure for leaves LL but not sure I'd want to be spraying anything on fruit.

[Leeds_lad]

Good cure for leaves LL but not sure I'd want to be spraying anything on fruit.

It doesn't affect the fruits at all. You should wash them after picking and before eating anyway so doesn't really change anything

[Two_Sheds]

Many people have problems with using washing liquid on plants. It should actually be "soft soap", not your Fairy kind of thing.

I'm a squisher, it's the only thing that really works, but you have to keep at it, and be on top of outbreaks. I'd not bothered to check my roses this year, but happily there's a family of sparrows out there right now, feasting on the little green bugs

[dominic10]

Thanks for your replies guys - this is why I'm not too concerned about the roses 2S because I know birds like a greenfly feast but not on my strawberries. Not a single critter on my roses. I think it will be a hands and knees job washing the leaves and spraying them. I must be losing track of time because of the allotment I thought the aphids came later in the year.

[Two_Sheds]

No, aphids come along as soon as there's a bit of sunshine, then they breed like billy-oh


I find it easiest to squish & rinse at the same time, with a watering can (no rose) in one hand

[redser]

I had a lot appear suddenly in the tunnel. I used the hose and physically sprayed them off. Did this twice and they never came back. Took the pots outside, held them almost upside down and sprayed them out on the lane away from other plants. For stuff in the ground, I chucked a handful of soil over the base of the plants to cover them after I sprayed the plants. I guess you need to cast a quick eye around regularly and catch it before it's a full infestation.

[dominic10]

Thank you so much redser - I very rarely use the hosepipe nowadays and your advice is spot on and less time consuming from what I had in mind. I think with all the planning, sowing and planting out I've got a bit bogged down in detail so I find this is when asking for advice on this forum is so good. We don't have a hosepipe ban here and it is a perfect day for spraying - overcast. Just done the first blitz and hopefully will have given the strawberries a good watering so lots of strawberries in a few weeks time. Fingers crorssed! Hopefully I have caught it in time for the strawberries and before the aphids pass on to my veggie seedlings.

[dominic10]

Have just sprayed them again. Fingers crossed it seems to be working.