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Preventing blackfly on broad beans

(8 Posts)
Nannarose Fri 28-Jun-24 13:56:15

Thanks for the tip about parsnips. I have found soapy water good, but needs frequent application.
My best tip is to plant in the autumn - they then come through before the blackfly have got moving - doesn't work if you want beans throughout the summer, but makes the best use of my small raised bed.

merlotgran Fri 28-Jun-24 13:21:44

This was on Gardeners’ World last night. A viewer was filmed showing his way of preventing black fly by growing parsnips into their second year so the umbelliferous flowers can attract hover flies and other insects which feed on aphids.

I was intrigued because we allowed some of our parsnips to flower this year because we wanted to make a floral display of allotment wildlife attractors for a memorial service for one of our group members who has recently died.

The nearby bed of broad beans had no blackly at all whereas a few surplus plants grown at the bottom of the plot were covered in them.

Germanshepherdsmum Fri 28-Jun-24 12:19:39

I bought mine as plug plants several years ago. Just a few. They are still doing well.
www.cumbriawildflowers.co.uk/habitats/wildcarrotdaucuscarotaplugplants

Callistemon213 Fri 28-Jun-24 12:14:52

Marigolds or French marigolds planted amongst them.
And spray with soapy water.

Germanshepherdsmum Fri 28-Jun-24 12:14:50

Lots online - here’s one example
www.sarahraven.com/products/daucus-carota

ExDancer Fri 28-Jun-24 12:11:56

That's interesting.
I've heard that marigolds have the same effect, but never tried it myself. I think a trial run next year may be in order.
Where would I find draucus carrotta seeds?

Jane43 Fri 28-Jun-24 12:05:46

My Dad used to spray them with soapy water.

Bramblewitch Fri 28-Jun-24 12:02:49

Two years ago I grew some wild carrot, daucus carrotta, from seed on my allotment. It has taken this long to reach it's full growth but it is now large and beautiful . I have noticed a lot fewer blackfly on my broad beans which I believe is due to the wild carrot attracting the right insects to predate the blackfly.