Help - Greenfly on indoor herbs

Jo.G

I have grown basil, corriander, flat leaf parsley and mint from seeds and they were growing happily on my kitchen window.
Then I had an attack of the greenfly, mainly on the corriander. I kept wiping them off and tried the washing up liquid in water and spraying but to no avail. Eventually I binned the corriander because I thought if I got rid of it, it might stop it spreading to the other herbs.
But no, today its been all over the parsley! I'm gutted and dont know what to do. I dont want to throw my herbs away. I can see them crawling about in the soil - if I re potted in new compost would it solve the problem?
Sorry, not very green fingered. Have wiped them off but what else can I do and is it possible to use pesticides on herbs, although I'd rather use an alternative. Didnt think greenfly would be a problem on indoor herbs, what have I done wrong?!

Farway

Jo.G wrote: »

I have grown basil, corriander, flat leaf parsley and mint from seeds and they were growing happily on my kitchen window.
Then I had an attack of the greenfly, mainly on the corriander. I kept wiping them off and tried the washing up liquid in water and spraying but to no avail. Eventually I binned the corriander because I thought if I got rid of it, it might stop it spreading to the other herbs.
But no, today its been all over the parsley! I'm gutted and dont know what to do. I dont want to throw my herbs away. I can see them crawling about in the soil - if I re potted in new compost would it solve the problem?
Sorry, not very green fingered. Have wiped them off but what else can I do and is it possible to use pesticides on herbs, although I'd rather use an alternative. Didnt think greenfly would be a problem on indoor herbs, what have I done wrong?!

Repotting will not solve the problem, are you sure they are greenfly? I ask as I have never seen them crawling soil, they fly and get carried about by ants

You can spray herbs, I do my outdoor mint & chives sometimes, and obviously the ones you bought as are all others were sprayed before you got them [unless organic], the only thing you need to watch is the time between spraying & eating.

You can get ready to use sprays [Asda, Wilko, etc] that only require 24 hours between spray & pick, so you could spray one morning and pick the following day dinner time for instance - make sure you check instructions before you buy it to see it is suitable for you

Jo.G

Thanks Farway,
I will get some spray from ASDA tomorrow and try and finish the little blighters off for good!

lisa_cee

me too chucked out my chives over a month ago there was masses also on parsley so had to chop them down and found a few on my corriander today argh would also prefer not to use anything harmful if im going to eat it !

thought it would help more by keeping the herbs inside but it doesnt !

Shambler

Its a shame they are indoors.

If they were in a greenhouse you could mail order some ladybirds from these people http://www.greengardener.co.uk/details.htm

Zazen999

Hi.
Don't spray them - buy a french marigold and keep it near. Better still, put them in a large pot with the marigold in the centre.
Hasn't failed me yet
If in doubt, check out companion planting on google or any other search engine.

liverpool_al

if you just wiped the insect off the herb,washed it under a tap,would it be ok to eat or would you get ill?

olly300

If they are crawling all over the soil they are likely to be fungus gnats.

Greenfly, as Farway, said tend to stick to the plants.

And yes you can eat herbs if you wipe the bugs off and wash it. Most outdoor herbs, fruit and veg would have had bugs on it at some time.

Rummer

I find it really odd, the only time I have had greenfly problems is with indoor herbs, why is that????

SEE

Try a sticky trap. I use them all the time and get no bugs at all. I even use a maginfying glass to inspect the captured critters. You'd be suprised what you catch:o
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/greenhouse-conservatory-fly-catcher-insect-sticky-pads_W0QQitemZ380118271783QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_Garden_Plants_Weed_Pest_Control_CV?hash=item380118271783&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318