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Bizarre blackfly infestation

 
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sean
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 10 2:40 pm    Post subject: Bizarre blackfly infestation Reply with quote
    

We got home yesterday from a weekend away to discover one of our broad bean plants absolutely covered in blackfly. None whatsoever on any of the other plants. Most odd.
Anyone got any ideas as to why this might be?

misty07



Joined: 22 Jan 2010
Posts: 2223
Location: swindon wiltshire
PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 10 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

im the same all blackfly on 1 pot of beans none of the others afected but dont know what to do with them

chicken feed



Joined: 27 Aug 2009
Posts: 2677

PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 10 2:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

i dont grow broad beans but mum had the same problem last year she sprayed them with water & fairy liquid and within a day no more blackfly.

Bebo



Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex
PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 10 3:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Broad beans are notorious for attracting black fly.

Be careful with the washing up liquid you use. OH managed to singe the leaves on our broad beans. I'll only use soap flakes from now on.

T.G



Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Posts: 7280
Location: Somewhere you're not
PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 10 4:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

chicken feed wrote:
i dont grow broad beans but mum had the same problem last year she sprayed them with water & fairy liquid and within a day no more blackfly.


yes washing up water is great for it - i through it over them when i've done the pots

SarahB



Joined: 09 Sep 2007
Posts: 869
Location: South Wales
PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 10 6:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Bebo wrote:
Broad beans are notorious for attracting black fly.

Be careful with the washing up liquid you use. OH managed to singe the leaves on our broad beans. I'll only use soap flakes from now on.


I use soap nut solution in a sprayer.

nettie



Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk
PostPosted: Tue Jun 22, 10 12:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I don't know that they've singled out one plant, i think it's just that they're so late this year (like everything else), and that happens to be the first plant they got to. I saw the first blackfly activity here this weekend, and they would normally have been here a month ago.

Cut out the blackfly infested bits, then cut the growing tops off ALL the broad beans regardless of whether they have the fly (these get infested first) and if they are OK, steam or wilt the tips and eat them!!!

otatop



Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 1425
Location: North London
PostPosted: Sun Jun 27, 10 1:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It might well be a bit late for this comment, bit I've found that some sacrificial pot marigolds among the beans seem to help.

nettie



Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk
PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 10 9:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Absolutely the best ever thing about this I've discovered, completely by accident/laziness, is that blackfly far prefer cow parsley to broad beans, nasturtiums or marigolds!!!

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