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Keith g Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree


Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Posts: 68 Location: Cavan
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 7:59 pm Post subject: Organic aphid spray |
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Hi folks, has anybody got a recommendation for using an organic spray for the elimination of aphids and greenfly?
The buggers are all over my dahlia seedlings despite my best efforts
Thanks,
Keith.. _________________ "Stars are the golden fruit of a tree beyond reach" |
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 5188 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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Washing up liquid at 10%, let the the little buggers have plenty of foam. _________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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Blowin Rank attained: Vegetable garden tender
Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 930 Location: Drimoleague, Co Cork
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 5:11 am Post subject: |
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Boil up some rhubarb leaves, strain the liquid off when cold, put it in a discarded household trigger spray off e.g. window cleaner, thoroughly washed out, and spray them with that. Watch them fall off. _________________ A novice gardener on newly cultivated, stoney ground. |
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Keith g Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree


Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Posts: 68 Location: Cavan
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: |
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Ah thank you folks, I'll try both methods
I'll separate my seedlings and see which works best
Keith. _________________ "Stars are the golden fruit of a tree beyond reach" |
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Sue Deacon Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 31 Dec 2014 Posts: 2029 Location: West Fermanagh
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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Both those work well, or you could try a solution of soft soap (if you can get it). For larger plants and shrubs such as roses you could try my friends trick - breadcrumbs! She sprinkles them on the leaves, it attracts Blue Tits. When they have finished the breadcrumb starter, they move on to aphid maincourse. It must work - she never has aphids! |
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 5188 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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Now that's clever. _________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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Keith g Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree


Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Posts: 68 Location: Cavan
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: |
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+1 yeah that's really clever !!
Keith.. _________________ "Stars are the golden fruit of a tree beyond reach" |
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Greengage Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 09 Nov 2011 Posts: 3129 Location: Kildare
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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why oh why are we trying to kill everything, Why are they on your dahlias what conditions exist that encourages them, why not introduce some ladybirds to the plants there are lots around at the moment, Whats this organic pesticides, Pesticides are non discriminatory wheather its greenfly, or ladybirds,
"A recent study compared the effectiveness of a rotenone-pyrethrin mixture versus a synthetic pesticide, imidan. Rotenone and pyrethrin are two common organic pesticides; imidan is considered a "soft" synthetic pesticide (i.e., designed to have a brief lifetime after application, and other traits that minimize unwanted effects). It was found that up to 7 applications of the rotenone- pyrethrin mixture were required to obtain the level of protection provided by 2 applications of imidan.
It seems unlikely that 7 applications of rotenone and pyrethrin are really better for the environment than 2 applications of imidan, especially when rotenone is extremely toxic to fish and other aquatic life.
It should be noted, however, that we don't know for certain which system is more harmful. This is because we do not look at organic pesticides the same way that we look at conventional pesticides. We don't know how long these organic pesticides persist in the environment, or the full extent of their effects.
When you look at lists of pesticides allowed in organic agriculture, you find warnings such as, "Use with caution. The toxicological effects of [organic pesticide X] are largely unknown," or "Its persistence in the soil is unknown." Again, researchers haven't bothered to study the effects of organic pesticides because it is assumed that "natural" chemicals are automatically safe."
www.ocf.berkeley.edu |
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Sue Deacon Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 31 Dec 2014 Posts: 2029 Location: West Fermanagh
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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Again - breadcrumbs - the only danger there is GM wheat.
Besides, in my 16 years in this house I have seen only ONE ladybird! We just don't get them, or lacewings. We just have the 'munchers', aphids, weevils etc. |
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Greengage Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 09 Nov 2011 Posts: 3129 Location: Kildare
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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i find that hard to believe, We thought none here until kids went looking and collected 26. |
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Sue Deacon Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 31 Dec 2014 Posts: 2029 Location: West Fermanagh
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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If we have, they are very good at hiding! |
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Good guy Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 11 Feb 2013 Posts: 2593 Location: Donegal
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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A balance of natural predators has to be the way to go. I'm encouraging as diverse a fauna as I can, using physical barriers where appropriate and trying to avoid anything else.
I'm interested in trying more of the Nemesis products - has anyone experience of their wireworm treatment? I found the slug one good - but then got a population explosion of baby snails! You really can't win.😫 |
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Greengage Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 09 Nov 2011 Posts: 3129 Location: Kildare
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 8:35 am Post subject: |
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James had an article on Wire worms, http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/about1277.html
I assume these are imported and not native I wonder the effects they would have on the indigenous Population. Introducing a new Species to solve one problem could result in a bigger problem. i read an article where bumblebees are imported to help pollination of greenhouse crops from Hungary and Poland these are now escaping and cross breeding with the indigenous population, Leading to sterility in native bees and introducing new mites and diseases. |
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Good guy Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 11 Feb 2013 Posts: 2593 Location: Donegal
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for that, Greengage. Yes, I'm well aware of the problems caused by introduced 'solutions' to problems - think rabbits and some kind of toad(?) in Oz, not to mention the varroa mite on bees here.
But the nematodes in use against slugs and those used against wireworm do already occur here. The treatment involves introducing vast quantities of the beastie to tackle the target pest. Once the pest has been greatly reduced, the nematodes reduce in number to normal proportions, too. Or so we are told - and it does seem logical. |
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tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 5188 Location: Co. Wexford
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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Cane toads. _________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
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