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Food grade pest killer ideas

EmideeEmidee Posts: 5
in Problem solving

This is my first year growing fruit, veg and herbs and my blackcurrant plant and one of my mint plants have been infested with greenfly image. I want to catch them before they spread across my other plants but I'm at a loss as to what to use. I've read lots of ideas on the internet but I have no idea what is best to use.

Can anyone help out with a greenfly killer that will be safe for edible plants please?

Thank you  image

Posts

  • pansyfacepansyface PEAK DISTRICT DerbyshirePosts: 20,163

    BLUE TITS?

    HOUSE SPARROWS?

    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet PeterboroughPosts: 26,394

    Greenfly can be hosed off, anything that kills things won't be good for you or the rest of the food chain.

  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,901

    A hose and your fingers are probably your best bet.  Hose them off with a strong blast, and then use your fingers to squish as many as you can hidden under the leaves.  

    Utah, USA.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Central Norfolk UKPosts: 77,483

    I don't spray anything I'm going to eat. Spray them off with a hose jet or brush them off with your fingers, and feed the birds - they'll begin to nest near you'd garden and will gather the aphids for their young. 

    Later in the year the ladybirds and hover flies will eat them. If you spray the greenfly the spray will kill the hover flies and ladybirds too. 

    image

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • ObelixxObelixx Vendée, Western FrancePosts: 27,624

    Feed the birds.   The adults will then visit your garden looking for juice aphids and caterpillars to feed to their young.   Hoverfly and ladybirds also eat lots of aphids so be patient and wait for them to arrive. Meanwhile, as suggested, avoid all chemicals but gently squish large numbers with your fingers or blast them off with your hosepipe.

    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • FairygirlFairygirl west central ScotlandPosts: 46,422

    Think we're all singing from the same hymnbook here Emidee. Hosepipes or hands initially if it's a bad infestation - and then birds. By far the best method  image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....


  • EmideeEmidee Posts: 5

    Thanks everyone. I rinsed my mint under the tap as it's a small indoor plant and I'll tackle the blackcurrant with the hosepipe image

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