Pest control within a greenhouse

[eskymo]

Ok so my plastic tent isn't a real greenhouse but it's great and I love it! I'm now wary though that I am going to be plagued with greenfly or whitefly or other greenhouse pests that I don't know how to deal with as I've never had a greenhouse before.

I heard of those yellow sticky traps - are these any good? Is there a way of making these yourself from yellow card/plastic and glue?

What should I be aware of pestwise in the near future and how should I combat and attack?

Any advice most welcome as I would hate my greenhouse to get totally invaded!

[pigletwillie]

Plant Calendula (pot marigold) in there and you will find that they keep green and whitefly at bay as does basil.

The yellow traps work but will also bag good insects as well. Ventilate well to allow good insects in and if you do get infested, they will sort it out within a week or two for you.

[eskymo]

I've got some seeds of different types of marigold which I could plant - or do I specifically need Calendula plants?

[pigletwillie]

Marigolds work, but I have found calendula much better.

As a bonus if you heat up come olive oil and beeswax in a double saucepan (like for melting chocolate), add a handfull of calendula flowers and simmer for 10 minutes, strain and put into jars, you end up with a lovely hand cream that is great for scratches and sores and might help your "photo fingers"

[eskymo]

wow - sounds great. I'll have to order some Calendula seeds then and get started. Are they actually called 'pot marigold'?

Edit...

I just found some on the T&M site and ordered them and managed to get another packet of a different variety for free...cool!

[poultrychat]

I've stopped using the yellow traps because of the nice insects that they catch too, I started using a natural spray to get them but having read this I will get out a packet of calendula and plant some seeds .

Pigletwillie, do I take it I can just buy 'natural beeswax' for the mixture and I don't suppose there are any measurements you could give are there?

[pigletwillie]

You can buy it from beekeepers and health stores, I will sort out the measurements asap.

[eskymo]

oooh - I know a beekeeper - so maybe I can get it for free - yippee!

[poultrychat]

You can buy it from beekeepers and health stores, I will sort out the measurements asap.

Thank you

[pigletwillie]

Calendula Ointment

Olive oil 300 ml
Beeswax 100 gm
Calendula 1 big handfull of flowers

Put the oil and beeswax in a double saucepan (like for melting chocolate in) and bring to a simmer. Add a big handfull of calendula flowers and simmer for 10 minutes. Filter the flowers out and put the ointment into jars to cool. You can add a few drops of any essential oil if you wish to add a fragrance.

You can add more or less beeswax to alter the consistency to your ointment if you so wish.

Enjoy.

[eskymo]

I'm phoning my beekeeper friend this weekend! Thanks for that, I will definitely try it and let you know how I get on.

[bramble]

Hi Pigletwillie, do tagated do the same job in keeping green and white fly at bay or am i mixing them up with calandula?

[pigletwillie]

Bramble,

I have used tagetes which I think are a variant of french marigolds, as well as french marigolds to keep greenfly etc away but find Calendula better. A lady who has a walled garden near to me also swears by it. She also plants it around her broad beans and reports that her plants have virtually no blackfly on them.

As for the oinkment, I have only ever used Calendula.

[bramble]

Pigletwillie, I take it your not starting to speak in piglet language and that should be ointment, I like it though OINKment....get it.
Thanks for the advice though.

[andrewo]

If you wish and your space is big, you can use aphidus or ladybirds, both good insects to have in your garden but aphidus tend to do better under cover. Tagetes are really good as companion plants.