Dealing with aphids this spring

[Lumpy]

Aphids V Grandson with a water pistol full of soapy water = removal and laughter both at the same time.

[greenishfing]

I went into the greenhouse one day this Summer to find that the aubergine leaves were absolutely covered in greenfly. I squished some (ugh). There were still lots left. The following day I went in wearing latex gloves ready to do some serious squishing to find lots of ladybird larvae munching away. They cleared the lot. Now I give nature a chance before I take action.

[Penellype]

A couple of years ago I had a bell pepper on the kitchen windowsill that got aphids. Despite squashing all that I could find every day they kept appearing and gradually got worse, dropping their sticky honeydew onto the windowsill and generally being disgusting. I decided the only solution was to put the plant outside, even though it was getting towards autumn. There were a few smallish green fruit on it.

I planted it in a space in the border and kept an eye on it. When I planted it out there were aphids on every leaf. I soon noticed loads of hoverflies nearby and by the following day the aphids had completely disappeared. I was astonished, and wished I had just put the plant outside in its pot, as I could probably have brought it back indoors. As it was, none of the green fruit ripened.

[ancee]

Aphids are always a problem for greenhouse chillies, although it seems to be worse both early and late in the season. Maybe the good insects like ladybirds and hoverflies naturally munch most of the aphids in between?

Will be growing Limnanthes douglassi Poached Egg Plant for the first time this year to try and attract more good insects like hoverflies to help deal with the aphids.

ah that's a good idea Chris! I have poached egg plants self seeding all over the garden, but it hasn't occured to me to uproot some and put them in the greenhouse where I have a big white fly problem! Thank you

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Although my Greenhouse/Tunnel got away pretty much unscathed this last season, and it being a good old long slog, with the unprecedented weather we had, awaiting crops to ripen, especially the tomatoes, we did succumb to a few outbreaks of whitefly, and thrips! Which was a new one on me!

So like "Mothhawk" I'll definaty Be sowing more beneficial flowers indepersed among crops in the likes of, marigolds/Calandula, Zinnias, Cosmos and nasturtiums to try bring in the "Good Guys"

Oh! And be sowing n planting "True Greek Oregano" inter planted amongst Brassica's to deter the "Cabage White" New one on me!

Think it's all about balancing nature, and what we have to play with, without intervening too much!

[bearded bloke]

Last year the black fly seemed to prefer nearby dahlia's to my broad beans

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

BB! If you prefer your Broad Beans to your Dahlia's! Your onto a winner!

[Chris11]

T&M say they have a particularly good variety of marigold for deterring whitefly, has anyone grown it?

Marigold 'Tomato Growing Secret' - Half-hardy Annual Seeds - Thompson & Morgan

[Jungle Jane]

Looks like a normal French marigold,why are they keeping the variety a secret,sounds like a sales ploy 50 seeds for £2.99 or you can get marigold golden gate 60 seeds for 99p! All the French marigolds ive grown have kept whitefly away from my tomatoes,but I have had whitefly by my grape where I should probably put a hanging basket or something?

[jackarmy]

Dont know about spring but ive been squishing greenfly today, hasnt stopped all winter.
They love my chives overwintering in the greenhouse.

[Gillykat]

Looks like a normal French marigold,why are they keeping the variety a secret,sounds like a sales ploy 50 seeds for £2.99 or you can get marigold golden gate 60 seeds for 99p! All the French marigolds ive grown have kept whitefly away from my tomatoes,but I have had whitefly by my grape where I should probably put a hanging basket or something?

I had Tagetes 'starfire' in my polytunnel next to the tomatoes & cucumbers last summer and never had a problem with aphids or whitefly I think I got around 600 seeds for 99p on Fleabay

French Marigolds are the one flower I do grow lots of and I'm sure they help enormously by attracting all the beneficial insects which prey on the pests

[Penellype]

Dont know about spring but ive been squishing greenfly today, hasnt stopped all winter.
They love my chives overwintering in the greenhouse.

My outdoor chives are coming up and they are also infested with aphids. I've just been cutting off some dead crocosmia foliage and found a couple of ladybirds, so they have been introduced to the chives. Hopefully they will have a nice snack before the colder weather arrives.

[jackarmy]

Following my chillis getting hammered by them early last spring i have seriously been thinking about buying some ladybirds online, havent actually looked for somewhere selling them yet but i will if i remember, oh and ill buy a couple of those insect houses they have around, that may help.