Help! APHIDS in my greenhouse

BernieEarnie13

Hi all,

As much advice as possible here! I've had a greenhouse for a few years now and this year is the first I have encountered an APHID infestation. It all started yesterday when I noticed my healthy tomato seedlings had basically curled up and shrunk in size - then I noticed the little pests. Needless to say I removed all infested leaves of those not as infested and the plants that had been severely infested I put in the compost bin.  Tonight I have found that they have now started on my salvia and golden eye seedlings! RATHER annoyed.

Has anyone got any tips/tricks to get rid? I thought about finding a load of ladybirds in the garden and putting them on the infested plants in greenhouse. Although both yesterday and today I could not find any in the garden - typical! 

Many thanks in advance. I'd really like to get shot of them before all my hard work goes in the compost bin! 

BernieEarnie13

Forgot to say that I am trying to keep my garden organic. So any organic suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Many thanks!

wild edges

I use soapy water to spot treat aphids in the greenhouse. Use a natural washing up soap like Ecover Zero mixed fairly strongly in a sprayer and give them a good coating. The soap clogs their pores and they can't respire so they die very quickly.

edhelka

Wash the plants under running water and repeat if needed. It's hard to get them all but once that seedlings get bigger, they will be able to survive some aphids.

nick615

Another proven remedy is to boil rhubarb leaves, strain off the liquid when cool and, again, spray them with it.  Guaranteed organic.

Lyn

You can’t keep the rhubarb liquid though, you have to use within 24 hours apparently. 
recip here.

Boil 500 grams of rhubarb leaves in a few pints of water for about 20 minutes.

Allow leaf mixture to cool.

Strain the liquid into a CHILD PROOF/SAFE suitable container.

Add a tiny bit of dish detergent or soap flakes, (not laundry detergent).

Using a spray bottle, spray on leaves to kill off bugs such as aphids and spider mites, June bugs, and fungus diseases. 

*NOTE - DO NOT spray this product on ANYTHING edible. Rhubarb leaves contain high amounts of oxalic acid, and are poisonous, and could cause death.  

Fairygirl

In a greenhouse, good ventilation round the plants helps too.
I rub off aphids [although I only have a tiny greenhouse and nothing aphid attracting in there just now ] but water is the best method for large amounts.