Somewhere I read (maybe here but can't find it now) that sowing poppies close to peppers can / will help to reduce aphid infestations .... they attract hoverflies - of which (as I remember) their larvae (?) eat the aphids ... is this true ?
On a similar note, I also heard that basil (which we grow anyway) close to tomatoes will help deter / reduce all kinds of potential nasties ??
Poppies and Basil
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oldherbaceous
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Good evening Szmiti, there are a lot different opinions on this subject at the moment, not just with the combinations you have mentioned, but also with the other plant combinations that one can grow.
The way i look at it is, they may not all work but they certainly don't do any harm, and a lot of them look jolly nice growing together anyway.
I know this hasn't really given you an answer, but it's another way of looking at the subject.
The way i look at it is, they may not all work but they certainly don't do any harm, and a lot of them look jolly nice growing together anyway.
I know this hasn't really given you an answer, but it's another way of looking at the subject.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
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Jenny Green
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I've tried growing basil with tomatoes, but I've never known my tomatoes to get infested with anything anyway, so not sure it makes a difference.
I think the only thing we can say for sure at the moment is that encouraging beneficial insects into the garden and not killing them off with insecticides is going to help in the control of pests.
There's an interesting article in this month's RHS magazine written by someone who used to do research on aphids. She said that if aphid numbers were getting low, they would spray with a non-systemic insecticide, and after two weeks aphid numbers would boom again. This is because aphids reproduce much faster than their predators, so the aphid survivors of the spraying would outcompete the predator survivors. So any encouragement of predators has to be a good thing.
I think the only thing we can say for sure at the moment is that encouraging beneficial insects into the garden and not killing them off with insecticides is going to help in the control of pests.
There's an interesting article in this month's RHS magazine written by someone who used to do research on aphids. She said that if aphid numbers were getting low, they would spray with a non-systemic insecticide, and after two weeks aphid numbers would boom again. This is because aphids reproduce much faster than their predators, so the aphid survivors of the spraying would outcompete the predator survivors. So any encouragement of predators has to be a good thing.
(Formerly known as 'Organic Freak')
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.
Agreed ... I never had problems with toms either but there again, if there's something which may not help but can also be eaten / useful / looks nice, then why not ....
Peppers I am worried about - last yeat there were couple of weeks when they were infested and growth of some plants was checked quite significantly. I really don't like (and no longer want again) to resort to use of chemicals and so I'm trying to think ahead - especially as I am planning 11 varieties - of any potential natural deterrents in advance.
Peppers I am worried about - last yeat there were couple of weeks when they were infested and growth of some plants was checked quite significantly. I really don't like (and no longer want again) to resort to use of chemicals and so I'm trying to think ahead - especially as I am planning 11 varieties - of any potential natural deterrents in advance.
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Colin_M
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Though I've never had problems with bugs on tomatoes, I certainly have had endless battles with aphids on chilli and sweet peppers.
Basil is supposed to help - just be careful if you want to use the basil as well. I tried putting it next to greenfly-covered chillis. The chilli's never seemed any less infested, but when I went to pick the basil, it was crawling with greenfly (just spotted before it went into the salad!). Thus although it attracted aphids, it didn't make a huge difference to the peppers.
Another plant that attracts aphids is Tansy. Note however the warnings that it can be hard to get rid of. Here's what happened to some Tansy I puty in next to my peas last year:
One other one that worked for me is the "Poached Egg" plant. These attract hoverflies and their larvae then seek out aphids. Here they will get onto your infested plants and do make more of a difference.
Finally Ladybird larvae are also bug munchers of aphiods, but I haven't found a way of attracting them. I just go out and collect them (there are always quite a few on nettles).
Colin
Basil is supposed to help - just be careful if you want to use the basil as well. I tried putting it next to greenfly-covered chillis. The chilli's never seemed any less infested, but when I went to pick the basil, it was crawling with greenfly (just spotted before it went into the salad!). Thus although it attracted aphids, it didn't make a huge difference to the peppers.
Another plant that attracts aphids is Tansy. Note however the warnings that it can be hard to get rid of. Here's what happened to some Tansy I puty in next to my peas last year:
One other one that worked for me is the "Poached Egg" plant. These attract hoverflies and their larvae then seek out aphids. Here they will get onto your infested plants and do make more of a difference.
Finally Ladybird larvae are also bug munchers of aphiods, but I haven't found a way of attracting them. I just go out and collect them (there are always quite a few on nettles).
Colin
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Jenny Green
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It may help to look for causes as well as treating the effects. In Colin's picture you can see ants farming the aphids. Ants are notorious for 'seeding' plants with aphids. Find and kill the ants' nest and you'll help your aphid problem.
Bob Flowerdew recommends giving the ants their own supply of jam, so that they eat that instead of aphids' honeydew.
I put woodash around the bases of all my peppers and chilli peppers. I've never yet encountered an insect that is able to cross it.
Plants growing too lush can encourage aphid attacks too. Are you feeding the plants just enough or too much?
Finally, there's no need to resort to chemicals if you'd rather not. There are insecticides based on fatty acids that will kill aphids but not beneficial insects.
Bob Flowerdew recommends giving the ants their own supply of jam, so that they eat that instead of aphids' honeydew.
I put woodash around the bases of all my peppers and chilli peppers. I've never yet encountered an insect that is able to cross it.
Plants growing too lush can encourage aphid attacks too. Are you feeding the plants just enough or too much?
Finally, there's no need to resort to chemicals if you'd rather not. There are insecticides based on fatty acids that will kill aphids but not beneficial insects.
(Formerly known as 'Organic Freak')
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.
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Primrose
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I've been fortunate in that I've never had an aphid problem with my outdoor tomatoes (grown in soil) or outdoor peppers grown in pots, but every year I get a large number of pink self-seeding poppies sprout up in the garden and they always seem to end up smothered in blackfly if I leave them until they flower. So now I try and eliminate this problem at source and weed them all out as soon as I see them sprouting up. My indoor basil plants often get infected with whitefly or aphids but if I put them outdoors in summer they strangely stay free of any infections so I haven't really been able to make the connection, or lack or it between the various plants.
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Colin_M
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Some good points in the postings above.
I agree with Jenny about aphids being attracted to lush growth. Another one is stressed plants (eg. underwatering too). I've heard things like "Tonic" sprays suggested to remedy that. Can't vouch for these but I do try to spray regularly with seaweed (SM3) spray.
Personally, by the time aphid infestations get bad enough, I've never found most "natural" sprays actually did much. However I don't want to use straight chemicals on food plants. Nowadays, I often end up squashing them by hand, but this doesn't appeal to everyone.
What I have found to be effective for aphids is Derris spray. I think this has natural origins (fish?).
Taking up Primrose's point, I also suffer far more aphid problems indoors, especially in my conservatory. I expect the lack of any natural predators, plus overheating when the sun comes out all conspire against me here.
Colin
I agree with Jenny about aphids being attracted to lush growth. Another one is stressed plants (eg. underwatering too). I've heard things like "Tonic" sprays suggested to remedy that. Can't vouch for these but I do try to spray regularly with seaweed (SM3) spray.
Personally, by the time aphid infestations get bad enough, I've never found most "natural" sprays actually did much. However I don't want to use straight chemicals on food plants. Nowadays, I often end up squashing them by hand, but this doesn't appeal to everyone.
What I have found to be effective for aphids is Derris spray. I think this has natural origins (fish?).
Taking up Primrose's point, I also suffer far more aphid problems indoors, especially in my conservatory. I expect the lack of any natural predators, plus overheating when the sun comes out all conspire against me here.
Colin
Hi All,
Last year I had an outbreak of White Fly in the greenhouse and I planted some French Marigolds.
In no time the White Fly had gone.
I also planted garlic cloves in the grobags with my tomatoes. I don't know if these did any good but the whole greenhouse was bug free all summer.
Regards Gerry.
Last year I had an outbreak of White Fly in the greenhouse and I planted some French Marigolds.
In no time the White Fly had gone.
I also planted garlic cloves in the grobags with my tomatoes. I don't know if these did any good but the whole greenhouse was bug free all summer.
Regards Gerry.
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alan refail
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I always grow plenty of French Marigolds among the tomatoes and peppers and never have any aphids or whitefly. Could be just a coincidence, but I'm not risking trying to prove or disprove it.
Alan
Alan
Cred air o bob deg a glywi, a thi a gei rywfaint bach o wir (hen ddihareb Gymraeg)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
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Jenny Green
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Me too with the French Marigolds. Boy do they pong!
I wish someone would find something that deters red spider mite!
I wish someone would find something that deters red spider mite!
(Formerly known as 'Organic Freak')
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.
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oldherbaceous
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Dear Jenny, you will find misting with water two or three times a day if possible, really does help against red spider mite.
It is worth buying a good quality pump up sprayer though.
It is worth buying a good quality pump up sprayer though.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
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Jenny Green
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Yes, I've heard this too. Will you come round and do it for me Herby?
I've used biological control in the past, which works but is too expensive. Nowadays I spray with fatty acids, which also works (you can actually see them congregating on the areas that haven't been sprayed). But life would be so much easier if I could find something that would deter them in the first place.
(That didn't also involve me being retired, I mean!)
I've used biological control in the past, which works but is too expensive. Nowadays I spray with fatty acids, which also works (you can actually see them congregating on the areas that haven't been sprayed). But life would be so much easier if I could find something that would deter them in the first place.
(That didn't also involve me being retired, I mean!)(Formerly known as 'Organic Freak')
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.
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oldherbaceous
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I'll be there in ten minutes Jenny. 
Jenny i thought you were already retired,
My mistake obviously.
Jenny i thought you were already retired,
My mistake obviously.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.