Black fly invasion overnight - broad bean panic!

[kathyd]

Hi

When I checked yesterday, my broadies are getting covered in black fly! I forgot I was meant to pinch out the tops at some point - and to be honest I was so excited to see something actually growing in the garden without having to threaten it with a machine gun, I probably would have left them anyway - so I realise it's entirely my own fault and everything but...

Is there anything I can do to save them? I've squirted the worst bits with soapy water like I do with greenfly, but I have no idea if this will do any good or not. I also don't want to damage other insects - I did see a ladybird on there, and a small spider... Sadly my nasturtians aren't big enough to be any use yet. Having taken over the polytunnel and flowered ALL WINTER when I didn't really need them, there now isn't a single flower to be seen in the garden! Help!

[redser]

Too many to go through and squish? Maybe with some squishing music to pass the time? Am having to do that with greenfly in the tunnel at the moment, my thumbs are green It's a pain, but works. I used the hose to knock them off too where plants were strong enough to take it. Then I ruffled the soil up a bit to try bury some that fell.

[kathyd]

Hi redser. Yes, I've done a bit of squishing but there are lots on some plants, and often buried deep inside the flower buds where I can't really see them or get at them. I guess I'll just have to keep on squishing the ones I can reach and hope to minimise the damage a bit. I don't suppose lopping the tops off now would help?

[rustylady]

Are there many on the tops of the plants Kathy? That's where they usually start their invasion.

[kathyd]

Hi rustylady. Most of them are at or near the top, spreading downwards a bit on some plants - on the top third anyway. A few plants seem to have escaped so far - or at least they looked clear earlier, I've not checked since I came back from my French class. Advice I read about pinching the tops out suggests you do this once the plants have stopped flowering, but these beans still seem to be throwing up flowers so I'm a bit confused. Any advice greatly appreciated. I have some slightly younger beans next to them so far showing no sign of blackfly, so if pinching tops would help I'll do it - if I know when!

Edit: I've blasted them with our very vicious hose, so now the beans are lying almost flat on the floor but with a lot fewer blackfly on them! Tomorrow I'll squish any which reappear, and blast again when necessary. In between spraying with soapy water of course! Lol, how on earth do you all manage your allotments / veggie plots if you also have full time jobs or young families?? I'm 'early retired' and in theory have endless time to do things in the garden (although theory isn't quite the same in practice - we've never worked so hard in our lives as since we've retired ), but I'm still struggling to keep up and do things on time, and keep on top of weather problems and bug problems and disease problems and... it's a full time job in itself!! And now I'm going to get changed into some dry clothes, because the beans aren't the only things that got a good drenching up there .

[rustylady]

Blackfly (and greenfly) tend to start at the top of the plants where the new tender growth is, hence the advice to pinch out the tips. You only pinch out the top two inches or so, and the rest of the bean plant below this will still continue to flower and produce beans. How tall are your plants?

[kathyd]

The affected plants are probably about 2ft tall, the others about 18". Which I'm quite pleased with, given the rotten weather and it being my first time growing them! So pinching out the tops on both lots is a good idea? How do you know when to start pinching?

[zazen999]

Do it now.

I have had 2 this year with blackfly [never had it before, ever] and just nip out the affected bit and put it in the composter.

[Two_Sheds]

The blackfly are just starting to get going on my broadies, and they're being sneaky this year: rather than starting at the tips where I can see them, they're on the pods themselves (probably being carried there by the ants, who are far cleverer than aphids).

I'm still at the squishing stage, they aren't that bad yet, but if I don't keep on top of it (checking daily or every other day) the population will explode

[kathyd]

Oh no, on the pods too?? I didn't check those... Do they eat the beans? I'm not sure what damage to expect from them... Not that they'll be given the chance to do much more since I'm on their case now!

[lottie dolly]

Me to,and 1 plant lower down,so plulled it up,and nipped the top of another,i wondered if it was a sign that warmer weather is on the horizon,

[lottie dolly]

Oh no, on the pods too?? I didn't check those... Do they eat the beans? I'm not sure what damage to expect from them... Not that they'll be given the chance to do much more since I'm on their case now!

from my experience they render them no good,the pods go distorted,this year mine have not done to well in anycase,good job i still got some in the freezer from last year,

[Leeds_lad]

have always planted Nasturtiums in pots a distance away from my broad beans. Those can end up getting covered where my beans are always free of them =). It's a good tip to use

[kathyd]

Me to,and 1 plant lower down,so plulled it up,and nipped the top of another,i wondered if it was a sign that warmer weather is on the horizon,

I have a horrible feeling that the horizon is where the warmer weather is going to stay this year lottie dolly .

have always planted Nasturtiums in pots a distance away from my broad beans. Those can end up getting covered where my beans are always free of them =). It's a good tip to use

That's a good idea - I planted mine alongside them, although as I say they haven't flowered yet - too cold!! How far away do you recommend?

[Leeds_lad]

That's a good idea - I planted mine alongside them, although as I say they haven't flowered yet - too cold!! How far away do you recommend?[/QUOTE]

Not sure really. I just put them in pots about 8 foot or so away from the broad beans.