Aphid attack help wanted

NoelleV

Over the last couple of days I've noticed I have ever increasing amounts of Aphids living on my veggies seedlings. I can only imagine they got in through the windows when the weather was nice!

The Aphids seem to be increasing in numbers but don't appear to be doing much damage to the plants yet..... however I can't imagine they are good news.

So my question is, how do I get rid of them, without using nasty chemicals. I've read that spraying the plants with soapy water helps? does this really work??? Sounds a bit too good to be true!
I know ladybirds help, but as my seedlings are still inside, I'm not sure my land lady would be overly impresed with a ladybird colony replacing the aphids in the house! Maybe I could try ladybirds when they go out side?

This is my first year of veg growing, so any help would be much appreciated!!!

Thank you

Lotus-eater

Oh they're definitely doing damage to the plants.

What plants are they on?

Yes soapy water really does help, I use soft soap which is some sort of horticultural soap I believe, but I know many use washing up liquid, you only need a couple of drops and you will have to repeat every day until the deed is done.

Once the plants are outside, put them near flowers if you can and the insects in the garden should deal with them. In fact depending on what the plants are and the weather, you should be putting them outside in the daytime now.

Kay_Peel

If you've got any strong smelling herbs in pots - Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Lavender etc then move them near to your veggie plants.

I have a pot of garlic bulbs (grown from a few cloves of garlic that sprouted in the salad drawer of my fridge) which I move around the garden and stick near plants that are vulnerable. I find this tip really effective. I also plant some marigolds in a pot and move them around, too.

I put on disposable gloves and squash the greenfly.

Or you can make the ULTIMATE APHID PREVENTION WASH. Here's the recipe:

Open your windows first.:rotfl:

Boil cushed garlic cloves (about 12) and an old onion until they are soft, mushy and jelly-like, in an old saucepan, with a litre of water.

Leave to cool and strain. (The longer you let it boil and marinade the stronger it will be.) Decant into a bottle

Half fill a spray bottle with grey water from your washing up bowl - or with warm water and a few drops of washing up liquid. Top it up with your garlic juice. If your plants are already badly infested then use the garlic onion juice neat

On a warm day, spray plants and let them dry. On wet days, direct the nozzle directly at the aphids and blast them.

Job done! :beer:

NoelleV

Thanks for the advice, I'll try washin up liquid first, as I've got that to hand, and the move onto garlic juice if washing up liquid fails!

The Aphids are on the starwberries, corriander, basil.... just worried they'll move onto my mangetout and courgettes next! or my housemates toms!

ps do you kow if my manegtout can go outside yet?

Farway

NoelleV wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, I'll try washin up liquid first, as I've got that to hand, and the move onto garlic juice if washing up liquid fails!

The Aphids are on the starwberries, corriander, basil.... just worried they'll move onto my mangetout and courgettes next! or my housemates toms!

ps do you kow if my manegtout can go outside yet?

My mangetout have been out for a month, so yes, and your strawberries should also be outside

I am in Hampshire, if you are in the Hebrides then this may not apply

NoelleV

Thanks Farway, I'm in Hampshire too, so the mangetout are going outside this weekend, as they've spent this week outside in the day time!

I tried the washing up liquid trick and gave them a good squirt of washing up liquid water for two days running and the aphids seem to have disappeared!

thank you!