Aphids on alliums

[Goldcrest]

No matter which allium I plant (chives, welsh onions, babbington's leek, ornamentals, etc.) they get covered in black aphids - I always thought they were supposed to deter the pesky critters!

I grow mine in pots mostly 50:50 sand and compost - thought that might be the problem, but visited Chelsea Physic Gardens 3 weeks ago and some of theirs were covered when planted in the ground.

Is it ant farming? Have I been cursed by the aphid god?

PS The chives tend to weaken and die off.

Any hints / tips gratefully received!

[Scarlet]

You have been cursed!

This is a particularly bad year for aphids I think. I've never seen so much black fly .

Can you just try dislodging them with some water from a hose?

[Scarlet]

To make you feel better:



I washed them off and they look much better today.

[Mr Bones]

Same here Goldcrest. Chives have almost bit the dust and spring onions in cells have been consigned to the compost.

[bikermike]

Were you a ladybird in a previous life

[bramble]

Afraid to tempt fate but I havnt seen any of these yet this year.

[Trouvere]

It seems a good year for invertebrates in general. I'm noticing a lot more zebra back spiders, ladybirds and leaf beetles than usual - and, yes, aphids on my alliums and blackfly on my rhubarb. But not one sawfly larva on my gooseberries!

[Jungle Jane]

A large aphid population makes ladybirds want to mate otherwise they’d fly off. We’re making some creatures really happy with our aphid selection. When I see aphids there’s also ladybird nymphs on the fruit tree & plants so I haven’t done any squashing,some leaves are curled but it’s alright,ladybirds are sorting it out.

[Scarlet]

But not one sawfly larva on my gooseberries!

Im not bothered about sawfly this year - blackbirds ate every single one!
Pigeons have had every currant - they normally leave the black ones but not this year

[Scarlet]

A large aphid population makes ladybirds want to mate otherwise they’d fly off. We’re making some creatures really happy with our aphid selection. .

Actually I've never seen so many yellow ladybirds. Huge amounts this year.

[Martin H]

I saw some two-spot ladybirds mating earlier this year. They have been pretty rare down here, all I normally see are harlequins.

The aphids in my garden are losing the battle to the ant lions now. Good to see.

[Goldcrest]

I've tried water-blasting with the larger plants but my chives are really weedy - although I am having strong words with them - is this known as chive talkin' ?

Or ah, ha, ha, bein' a chive, keep stayin' alive, ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' ali-iii-iii-iive?

Anyway, here's the plan:
1. Buy / plant some more
2. Move them off the sunny patio (read somewhere they don't like heat)
3. Frustrate the ants

Will report if this works - thanks for the answers!

[Goldcrest]

Aphid / chive update: It's the ants!

4 pots: 1 patio next to ant stop, 1 patio no ant stop, repeated in borders
Both ant stops fine, border better growth than patio (cooler)?, no ant stop patio - died, no ant stop border - couple of aphids but washable ...

Go on ant go, walk out the door, just turn around now, you're not welcome any more .... the chives survive ...

[veggiechicken]

"Don't stop me now, as I'm having such a good chive................"

Glad you've found out who the culprits are and how to stop their ant-ics.

[Goldcrest]

You're the ant I don't want, oo oo, oo oo ooo honey ......

Or if I lived further east and was in a hurry it would be:

Murder of the Ori-ant Express boom,boom :-)