Broad beans/blackfly - when can I pinch out tops?

[Trix]

I've been keeping an eye on my newly planted broad beans (there have been a couple of ants hanging around them all week) and woke this morning to find a lot of blackfly on the tips and in the folds at the top. I know this query comes up a lot but all the advice I can find says to pinch out the tips once the beans have flowered and mine are nowhere near this stage yet. I sowed them this spring and they're only about 6-8" tall - won't taking the tops stop them growing (sorry, complete newbie question!)?

I've read about using washing up liquid but also seen some comments that this will affect the plants/shrivel the leaves. The flies are all tucked into the folds of new leaves so would be very difficult/impossible to remove by hand.

What's the best approach here please?

[cariann88]

I suffered with greenfly a few weeks ago and tried the washing up liquid. My plant seem to be fine with me using it but the greenfly was not going, I just kept getting more. So in the end I got rid of the whole broad bean plant and my other one seems to be fine(fingers crossed nothing happens now)

Have you tried using shop bought bug spray?

[Trix]

I'm not keen on using sprays to be honest - I'd like to be as organic as possible (I know washing up liquid isn't but it seems to be the most recommended solution). Thanks for the reply - though I was hoping for better news

[roitelet]

If they have produced all their flowers pinch out the tops, they will only produce leaves from then on. If not then spray with washing up liquid or soft soap in a very weak solution. Let them grow a bit more then pinch out the tops.

[Bren In Pots]

Trix I use a very small squirt of Ecover in a spray bottle that I've added some garlic to.

[Plot28 A&B]

Last year we used tomato plant leaves which had soaked in water over night, it produces a greenish brown colour liquid that stinks but it seemed to work both on the broad beans and the runner beans. I have to say it was later in the year though. Not sure what the properties are, probably they could not stand the stink.

Advice - don't get it on your clothes or hands - people will know you are coming :-)

[cariann88]

I have just read on line.....Make a fly trap by using a jar of large size and place sugar, soda, and any other sweet item capable of attracting flies in it. Place the lid and make holes large enough to let the flies enter and keep it in a corner. Flies will get attracted towards the sweet food, enter into the jar and get entrapped.
Read more at Buzzle: Home Remedies to Get Rid of Black Flies

[Two_Sheds]

This shows where a little knowledge is a dangerous thing (not you, but the advice you've received). It turns into Chinese Whispers

my newly planted broad beans

it's a bit late for planting BBs. They're cool weather plants. In warm weather they put on soft lush growth which is extremely palatable to blackfly

a lot of blackfly on the tips ... pinch out the tips

... because the tips are the softest, easiest part for the aphids to suck on. By removing the tips (and the resident blackflies) you remove the lushest softest part of the plant

I've read about using washing up liquid

... but it shouldn't be washing up liquid, it should be soft soap

[Two_Sheds]

Have you tried using shop bought bug spray?

It's indiscriminate though: it kills bees and good insects too

[Trix]

Thank you all for your comments - I've got a lot of them off by hand and will keep an eye on them - soft soap (not washing up liquid!) will be the next step. I'm new to all this and, as Two-Sheds pointed out, getting a lot of mixed messages and information!

it's a bit late for planting BBs. They're cool weather plants. In warm weather they put on soft lush growth which is extremely palatable to blackfly

They're not brand new - I started them according the the packet instructions (in March) but potted them into the ground this week. But, as you mentioned, they do have a lot of green, lush looking growth.

... because the tips are the softest, easiest part for the aphids to suck on. By removing the tips (and the resident blackflies) you remove the lushest softest part of the plant

I understood this but thought it might be too soon to remove the tips as my plants are still small and not flowering yet - obviously this is linked to planting them in spring! I'll see how thay go, and make sure I sow the next lot early for next year.

Thank you all - I'm learning loads!

[Ja9]

I sow them in the autumn to try and avoid this problem They have done very well this year and I'm beginning to harvest. I can see ants too but so far no black fly and they will be out of the ground hopefully before it's too much of a problem. Winter sowing can get variable results and you will need to protect from the worst of the weather with cloches or old plastic drinks bottles. They have thrived this year because of the mild weather.
I blast my runner beans with the hosepipe when they get blackfly.