huge problem with blackfly!!

I have a real problem with Blackfly and ants on most of my plants.
They are killing new growth quicker than I can kill them.

On the advice of WOO, I use a concoction of fairy liquid, water and veg oil on my roses. Will this concoction kill the black fly, eggs and ants on all my other plants?
It seems to stop the aphids on my roses, although I don't know whether it's killing them.
Also, how often should I spray?
Can I spray too much> Will it harm my plants
If I had to buy spray to use it would cost me a fortune.


Any advice welcom.

 

Hi bashy, my lupins were slaughtered by aphids this year even though I sprayed them with soapy water. It worked last year, I dont understand, because so many of our gardeners had a bumper year for their lupins .Makes you wonder dos'nt it.:confused: 02

 

I find a very good quick method of removing clusters of blackfly is to hose the plant fairly vigorously- my hose has a setting called 'jet'. This blasts off most of the critters, then the soap spray will keep them down. The only place it doesn't work is on currant bushes as the leaves can get so distorted the spray can't get at the flies.
You shouldn't have to use vast quantities of soap spray this way, but it doesn't seem to harm the plants even if used every evening.

 

I use Provado,the sort you get in spray cans.I found that the ladybirds couldn't keep up with the fly on my roses or Lupins and the Blue Tits were more interested in nice juicy wriggly bugs to feed their chicks.:D

My roses and Lupins have loads of flowers on them and look a picture so at times I think it pays to use the chemical stuff though I don't use it all the time as a matter of course.:thumb:

 

Bashy - I have blackfly on my broad beans, and have resorted to the chemical stuff (hangs head in shame). I got some of Wilko's own version, which as Wilko's stuff usually is, exactly the same as the branded stuff and about £1.49! Bargain, if not very environmentally friendly! :D

 

Thanks Dave, I'll give it a go. Does it have a name?

 

I'm not having much luck with the black fly although they do seem to have limited themselves to the broad beans and to the nasturtiums (sp!)
I have tried soapy water and also keep using the chemical stuff on occassions. If I don't I won't have anything left soon.

 

I think it is called something original like Wilkinson's Bug Killer - obviously Wilko's advertising execs are highly stretched!

It is next to all the others in our shop, so I assume it would be the same for you. It's in a white spray bottle and is about £1.50-ish I think.

 

thanks dave.

 

Bashy.

The soap solution doesn't kill the Black Fly, it just stops them being able to stick to the plant in question. The ants are farming the Black Fly.

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To try to avoid Black Fly on Broad Beans, you have to remove the tips or top of the plant. Sometimes it works, other times?

Nasturtiums attract Black Fly, Caterpillars (well the fly first of course), Bees etc. I only grow Nasturtiums to eat, but I wouldn't like to eat them if they have been sprayed with a chemical spray,(don't think it would do the bees any good either) no matter what it says on the tin or box.:thumb:

I also like to collect the seeds and dry them. Then use them as a substitute for black pepper corns, (much cheaper that way) and put them in a grinder.