I've tried all the bio remedies- parasitic flies of various species and
ladybirds. Now I'm facing millions of the greenflies- the air is thick and
they are swarming over everything, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, herbs,
and fruit has pretty well stopped growing. I've been a committed organic
gardener for years- but this has got beyond a joke- any tips? It is a large
greenhouse- 18 feet by 10, full of plants.
PD

On 15/8/06 15:51, in article ,
"Easynews" wrote:

I've tried all the bio remedies- parasitic flies of various species and
ladybirds. Now I'm facing millions of the greenflies- the air is thick and
they are swarming over everything, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, herbs,
and fruit has pretty well stopped growing. I've been a committed organic
gardener for years- but this has got beyond a joke- any tips? It is a large
greenhouse- 18 feet by 10, full of plants.
PD


Try to keep your nerve and keep going with the bio remedies. Consider
introducing more of whatever you're using in that line and perhaps hanging
up lots of bird feeders full of seeds and peanuts to encourage them into
your greenhouse.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

Introduce spiders it worked for me earlier in the year, mind you walking
into a spiders web first thing in the morning is not to be encouraged.
I found spiders webs covered in greenfly/blackfly and other flying insects,
or you could use old fashioned flypapers, use citronella oil either in
candles or essential oil,(havent tried it but am told it works)

Spray with soft soap

Collect and introduce ladybirds

Grow french marigolds.

If in doubt or panic try Provado Ultimate Bug Killer
I only use that on my Lilies for lily beetle
regards
Cineman


Try here for eco friendly spray
http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/pages...00ml&cid=8 80



"Easynews" wrote in message
m...
I've tried all the bio remedies- parasitic flies of various species and
ladybirds. Now I'm facing millions of the greenflies- the air is thick and
they are swarming over everything, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, herbs,
and fruit has pretty well stopped growing. I've been a committed organic
gardener for years- but this has got beyond a joke- any tips? It is a
large greenhouse- 18 feet by 10, full of plants.
PD

Easynews writes
I've tried all the bio remedies- parasitic flies of various species and
ladybirds. Now I'm facing millions of the greenflies- the air is thick

Are you sure they're greenfly? Most of them don't fly - they only have a
few flying individuals for dispersion. "Air is thick" sounds more like
whitefly, of which I too have a mega-infestation.

and
they are swarming over everything, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, herbs,
and fruit has pretty well stopped growing. I've been a committed organic
gardener for years- but this has got beyond a joke- any tips? It is a large
greenhouse- 18 feet by 10, full of plants.
PD



--
Kay

"K" wrote in message
...
Easynews writes
I've tried all the bio remedies- parasitic flies of various species and
ladybirds. Now I'm facing millions of the greenflies- the air is thick

Are you sure they're greenfly? Most of them don't fly - they only have a
few flying individuals for dispersion. "Air is thick" sounds more like
whitefly, of which I too have a mega-infestation.

and
they are swarming over everything, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, herbs,
and fruit has pretty well stopped growing. I've been a committed organic
gardener for years- but this has got beyond a joke- any tips? It is a
large
greenhouse- 18 feet by 10, full of plants.
PD



--
Kay

No, definitely greenfly. I'm an entomologist. There are lots and lots of
flying adults- but millions upon millions of larvae. I've never seen such a
bad infestation. I've spent a fortune on bio remedies- now I'm pointing
towards the chemical shelf at the local garden centre.

Easynews writes

No, definitely greenfly. I'm an entomologist.

Ok :-)

There are lots and lots of
flying adults-

That's impressive!
I've never seen more than a few flying ones even when plant shoots have
been covered.


--
Kay

Easynews wrote:
"K" wrote in message
...
Easynews writes
I've tried all the bio remedies- parasitic flies of various species and
ladybirds. Now I'm facing millions of the greenflies- the air is thick
Are you sure they're greenfly? Most of them don't fly - they only have a
few flying individuals for dispersion. "Air is thick" sounds more like
whitefly, of which I too have a mega-infestation.

and
they are swarming over everything, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, herbs,
and fruit has pretty well stopped growing. I've been a committed organic
gardener for years- but this has got beyond a joke- any tips? It is a
large
greenhouse- 18 feet by 10, full of plants.
PD


--
Kay

No, definitely greenfly. I'm an entomologist. There are lots and lots of
flying adults- but millions upon millions of larvae. I've never seen such a
bad infestation. I've spent a fortune on bio remedies- now I'm pointing
towards the chemical shelf at the local garden centre.


I wouldn't suggest this normally but you are so desperate here goes:

Cover your greenhouse with black plastic sheeting ... ...
Then open the door and stand back.

No need to tell you the result. If it works you will see for yourself.

Sam

Easynews wrote:

I've tried all the bio remedies- parasitic flies of various species and
ladybirds. Now I'm facing millions of the greenflies- the air is thick and
they are swarming over everything, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, herbs,
and fruit has pretty well stopped growing. I've been a committed organic
gardener for years- but this has got beyond a joke- any tips? It is a large
greenhouse- 18 feet by 10, full of plants.

If it is that far out of balance you are forced to fairly drastic
measures to regain control quickly. The fastest solution is an
insecticidal smoke knock down with low persistance - you can still buy
Permethrin based ones for amateur use as an insecticide. Afraid it will
kill every insect though good and bad alike. Smoke is very effective.
You could spray but getting under the leaves in a big greenhouse there
are always nooks and crannies you will miss.

Also you need to repeat after 7-10 days to get all the newly hatched
eggs.

Regards,
Martin Brown

Martin Brown writes

Easynews wrote:

I've tried all the bio remedies- parasitic flies of various species and
ladybirds. Now I'm facing millions of the greenflies- the air is thick and
they are swarming over everything, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, herbs,
and fruit has pretty well stopped growing. I've been a committed organic
gardener for years- but this has got beyond a joke- any tips? It is a large
greenhouse- 18 feet by 10, full of plants.

If it is that far out of balance you are forced to fairly drastic
measures to regain control quickly. The fastest solution is an
insecticidal smoke knock down with low persistance - you can still buy
Permethrin based ones for amateur use as an insecticide. Afraid it will
kill every insect though good and bad alike. Smoke is very effective.
You could spray but getting under the leaves in a big greenhouse there
are always nooks and crannies you will miss.

Also you need to repeat after 7-10 days to get all the newly hatched
eggs.

If you really don't want to use pesticides, you could try something
which someone recommended in urg a couple of year back for whitefly, ie
a vacuum cleaner. I've just had a go on my whitefly and have been very
pleased. I used the soft furniture brush, and simply vacuumed the
underside of the leaves. Some of the plants look a bit wind-blown, but
no leaf damage that I can see, and a huge disappearance of whitefly.

It might not work with aphids, as I think they have a firmer hold on the
plant, but it could be worth a try.
--
Kay

"K" wrote in message
...


If you really don't want to use pesticides, you could try something which
someone recommended in urg a couple of year back for whitefly, ie a vacuum
cleaner. I've just had a go on my whitefly and have been very pleased. I
used the soft furniture brush, and simply vacuumed the underside of the
leaves. Some of the plants look a bit wind-blown, but no leaf damage that
I can see, and a huge disappearance of whitefly.

It might not work with aphids, as I think they have a firmer hold on the
plant, but it could be worth a try.

If they're flying - "the air is thick" - it would be a solution for the
airborne ones. I meant to say it but was diverted.

Mary

Mary Fisher writes

"K" wrote in message
...


If you really don't want to use pesticides, you could try something which
someone recommended in urg a couple of year back for whitefly, ie a vacuum
cleaner. I've just had a go on my whitefly and have been very pleased. I
used the soft furniture brush, and simply vacuumed the underside of the
leaves. Some of the plants look a bit wind-blown, but no leaf damage that
I can see, and a huge disappearance of whitefly.

It might not work with aphids, as I think they have a firmer hold on the
plant, but it could be worth a try.

If they're flying - "the air is thick" - it would be a solution for the
airborne ones. I meant to say it but was diverted.

Would it, though? I tried it on airborne whitefly a couple of years ago
with no success at all. But I think whitefly are stronger fliers than
greenfly, so you could be right.
--
Kay

"K" wrote in message
...
Mary Fisher writes

"K" wrote in message
...


If you really don't want to use pesticides, you could try something
which
someone recommended in urg a couple of year back for whitefly, ie a
vacuum
cleaner. I've just had a go on my whitefly and have been very pleased. I
used the soft furniture brush, and simply vacuumed the underside of the
leaves. Some of the plants look a bit wind-blown, but no leaf damage
that
I can see, and a huge disappearance of whitefly.

It might not work with aphids, as I think they have a firmer hold on the
plant, but it could be worth a try.

If they're flying - "the air is thick" - it would be a solution for the
airborne ones. I meant to say it but was diverted.

Would it, though? I tried it on airborne whitefly a couple of years ago
with no success at all. But I think whitefly are stronger fliers than
greenfly, so you could be right.

I have no experience, Welsh daughter has used her vac on whitefly and says
it works. I keep intending to try it - when they get worse - but lethargy
runs in this family ...

Mary
--
Kay