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photo: helpfulgardener
Aphids (Blackfly).
Family: Aphididae.
- Blackfly are a relative newcomer to my vegetable garden, but recently they have made a nuisance of themselves on my alliums.
- I use a foliar spray of aerated compost tea in late winter to encourage an early microbial response to young blackfly, but if I find a small colony developing, I disperse them with jet of water from a hose. It pays to be vigilant and deal with them before they infest your crop.
- If dispersing them doesn't help, I spray diluted organic horticultural oil on the foliage of the plants being threatened.
- They have only attacked alliums and sweetcorn so far in my garden, but I watch all my edible plants for early signs of their presence so I can control them before they become a significant problem.
- You can use a jet of water to clear blackfly off any affected plants, but unlike greenfly, some of them will return to your plant again. Repeated applications eventually remove them for good.
- Although I have no direct evidence, I believe that regular monthly foliar sprays of activated aerobic compost tea helps strengthen plants so they can resist the attentions of aphids.
- It pays to be vigilant and deal with any pest before they do too much damage.
- In summer, look out for ants as they breed colonies of aphids for the sugary secretions they provide. Track the ants until you find the aphids colony they are nurturing.
- A foliar spray of organic horticultural oil or even home made organic soap solution will kill aphids by smothering them.
- Ants can be controlled by dusting their tracks and nests with diatomacous earth.
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