If there is food (e.g. aphids) they will stick around and set up a colony, get them a box or a bag. When they’re done they will eat each other… You could also look into lacewings.
This season I’ve been fortunate enough for predators to establish themselves and not had to buy anything.
You’ll defo solve the problem if you buy those. Just one ladybird would demolish what I’m picturing of the problem you have.
For context we have somewhere between 120-160 plants, and about 70% of those are fruit and so prone to aphids and therefore ants marshalling them.
Bottom Racer (not tagging on purpose) and I have been talking about growing chillies for years.
Harvested a tiny amount the other day for dinner (hopefully proving that I’m not talking out of my arse here and that this is genuine advice and that the site is reputable and will solve your problem)
Oh damn, there was a praying mantis but it seems to be gone.
There was a ladybird sitting on the zucchini plant a week or two ago but I didn’t want to move it to the pumpkin plants I had just sprayed (even though organic) and it also hasn’t stuck around.
I bought some dill to help attract ladybirds back and be a sacrificial plant
One of the pumpkins has aphids really severely and it’s starting to spread to the others…
I’ve sprayed soapy water and physically wiped as many as I could off but am a bit worried. Especially as ants are farming them.
Fast, reliable and relatively cheap ethical solution that I’ve used many many times before: bugs for bugs.
It is funny when you see some of your money literally flying away though, but in the grand scheme of things it’s good for the environment.
That’s a good idea. I’ve scrubbed off as much of the heavy infestation as I can but maybe there’s enough to get them to stick around for a bit
If there is food (e.g. aphids) they will stick around and set up a colony, get them a box or a bag. When they’re done they will eat each other… You could also look into lacewings.
This season I’ve been fortunate enough for predators to establish themselves and not had to buy anything.
You’ll defo solve the problem if you buy those. Just one ladybird would demolish what I’m picturing of the problem you have.
For context we have somewhere between 120-160 plants, and about 70% of those are fruit and so prone to aphids and therefore ants marshalling them.
Bottom Racer (not tagging on purpose) and I have been talking about growing chillies for years.
Harvested a tiny amount the other day for dinner (hopefully proving that I’m not talking out of my arse here and that this is genuine advice and that the site is reputable and will solve your problem)
Oh damn, there was a praying mantis but it seems to be gone.
There was a ladybird sitting on the zucchini plant a week or two ago but I didn’t want to move it to the pumpkin plants I had just sprayed (even though organic) and it also hasn’t stuck around.
I bought some dill to help attract ladybirds back and be a sacrificial plant