Broad beans black fly

[Bezzer34]

I have a couple of broad bean plants that are covered in black flys . Help what should I do ?

[WendyC]

I suspect most are around the growing tip. You can pinch out this growing tip and remove the black fly with it.

[Bezzer34]

The flys are the full length of the plants not just at the top ? Is there anything I can do ?

[rustylady]

Blast them off with a jet of water.

[Bezzer34]

Ok thanks I will give that a go. The beans are flowering but there are no pods yet should I still pinch the tops off ? I also read about spraying them with a household detergent I'm assuming this is washing up liquid ?? If so what dilution should I use ?

[rustylady]

If you're going to use detergent then very very dilute. What you're supposed to use is soft soap Uncle Tom's: A History of Natural Soft Soap

[kathyd]

Can someone remind me at what point you're supposed to pinch out the growing tips please, before the blackfly arrive? I seem to remember they arrived quite suddenly last year and took me by surprise!

I use a tiny squirt of eco washing up liquid in an old washing up liquid bottle and fill the rest up with water Bezzer, mostly to use on lupins and other flowers, but I'd use it on broadies too if desperate. However, I did find last year that our very fierce hose blasted most of the blackfly off without any problem. And don't worry, your beans will still form even if you pinch the tops out.

[roitelet]

Broad beans don't flower right to the top of the plant, so, I take out all the tops when I can clearly see there are no more flowers to come and usually manage to avoid blackfly. If you don't stop then they just keep on growing until they reach the sky!

[Bren In Pots]

Don't forget to eat your b/bean tops I use them in stir fries or omelets.

[Bezzer34]

Many thanks everyone for the information. This is my first year with an allotment and to be honest its a massive learning curve !.
My broad beans have not yet reached the height that it said on the packet but sounds like I should pinch the tops now.
I have runner beans and peas that both haven't grown very much either but have started to flower and in fact the peas are only about 6inches tall and have a couple of peas on them.
Can anyone suggest what I night have done wrong ?

[rustylady]

It's not you Bezzer - it's the bizarre weather we've had this year. By the way, could you add your location (nearest town) to your profile please? Then it will show up on your posts.

[Two_Sheds]

The flys are the full length of the plants not just at the top ? Is there anything I can do ?

You should've noticed them earlier, but there you go
They do reproduce amazingly quickly.
Squish them with your fingers, whilst pouring water from a can over your fingers to clean them. You don't want to completely eradicate them, because then there won't be enough food for their predators (lacewings, hoverflies, ladybird larvae), but get most of them.

If a 'branch' or pod looks too badly affected, just snip it off and put the whole thing in the compost bin.

My broad beans have not yet reached the height that it said on the packet

Mine never do: it's because my site is so windy, and wind does stunt growth quite dramatically