Single hen

[Tina C]

Went on holiday for a week and the black fly took advantage and are all over my broad beans.

 

Have been spraying with a garlic solution and a washing up liquid solution, and rubbing some off when I can. It has helped clear them a bit, but the horrible things are still there.

 

Anyone got any advice or am I wasting my time?

 

Seems a shame to pull them up as they have lots of beans on them, but will they be any good?

[Martin B]

Pick up a handful of dirt and grind it in your hands so that it is really thin, and then sprinkle it over the plants.

[Tina C]

Ooh sounds interesting - do I wet the plants first so it sticks?

[Tina C]

I think I will pinch some soil from the girls' dust baths - they seem to do a good job of making it a fine tilth.....

[Martin B]

Yer you can water the plants first.

[Tina C]

Thanks Martin - will give it a go now.

[Lesley]

I've never heard of that one Martin!

 

I usually do what you've already been doing Tina and leave the beans to grow. It gets rid of most of them and the beans still grow.

[Tara.F]

sprinkle some plain flour, next day, water thoroughly

 

drowns 'em

[Martin B]

I've never heard of that one Martin!

 

 

My Grandad told me and it does work apparently.

 

Apparently the smell deters them. Go out into any allotment site and do it your hands stink afterwards. Generations of rotted poo and other material!

[Tina C]

I am going to try Tara's tip as well! Its war now you know, anything goes!

[Tina C]

Calling Martin - are you out there?

 

I now have very dirty broad bean plants - do I leave them like that till it gets washed off by the rain or shall I water it off myself.

 

Its funny, after I put soil over them I seemed to remember seeing broad bean plants looking the same in the past and wondering why...now I know.

 

I have to say that even before I did it there was less black fly, presumably after all the spraying, so if this works they will be completely clear when I look at them this evening. If not, its out with the flour for Round 2.

[Martin B]

I have no idea Tina!

[Tina C]

[Mrs Blue Sky]

How about growing nasturtiums nearby as a sacrifice next year? I love nasturtiums, they're one of my very favourites, but are always smothered in blackfly. Maybe they would leave broad beans alone if they had something else..