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Aphids ... at this time of year?

NGLittleSeedlingsNGLittleSeedlings Posts: 725
in Problem solving

I have just been to check on my plants in the greenhouse ... give the ones I have been over-wintering a new top dressing of compost and leaf check. Whilst doing this guess what I came across on the underside of some leaves ... Aphids! 

I can't believe that they are already about and the fact they were in my Greenhouse has made it even worse. I gave them a good squish but has anyone got any top tips on how to keep them at bay with using sprays? They drove me mad last summer and it's going to be a long year if they are already making an appearance!

Also has anyone else come across them yet this year?

 

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  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,249

    Aphids are quite happy to overwinter in a greenhouse. Constant vigilance and early elimination by whatever means necessary.

  • NGLittleSeedlingsNGLittleSeedlings Posts: 725
    They weren't there last week, sneaky blighters!
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    I've just found some outside, on a Group 2 clematis (Elsa Spath) which has decided it's time to flower!  Flower buds 2-3 inches long, I kid you not.  Decided to prune it back.  We can only blame the mild temperatures this winter and cross fingers that 2014 isn't going to be the "year of the aphid"! image

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • NGLittleSeedlingsNGLittleSeedlings Posts: 725
    Blimey Bob it must be mild where you are!

    I don't know how il cope if it becomes that, they are the one thing that drive me absolutely crazy! Lol
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    Not really, NG - Leicestershire - being well inland usually means I get harder frosts than those nearer the coast.  That particular clematis has never known when to stop though - it just keeps flowering until the frost gets it.  Unfortunately (not sure if that is the right word!), there have only been 2 or 3 nights when there has actually been a frost this winter and then only -2C.  Copious amounts of rain, wind and general miserable weather but no frosts to speak of so a lot of bugs (both good and bad) will have survived when they would normally have a high mortality.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • NGLittleSeedlingsNGLittleSeedlings Posts: 725
    Sounds about the same weather where I am in East Yorkshire, think the lowest we had was -4 but that was only for 1 night.

    Let's hope some ladybirds make an appearance and clear up some of those aphids!
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    Let's hope so - hardly any last year but suspect Mother nature has it covered! image

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • NGLittleSeedlingsNGLittleSeedlings Posts: 725
    Fingers crossed ????
  • WeaveyDaveyWeaveyDavey Posts: 575

    Speaking of outdoor aphids reminds me that Team Blue Tit & Co have been checking out the griselina, verbena, wigelia and pelargoniums in my sheltered back yard shrubbery for several weeks now - they're definitely finding it worth their while supplementing their diet of peanuts, seed mix and fatballs etc.....!!

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,296

    We haven't really had a 'this time of year' have we? Only 2 all day frosts here and a few early morning ones. That's not winter.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
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