Aphids on Brussel Sprouts

[Dawsonhall]

We have what we believe to be aphids on our brussel sprouts. We are relatively new to gardening and would like to stay 'organic' if possible.
We have tried washing them away with the hose, but that did not solve the problem. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks,
Mary

 

[hoodat]

If you look closely you will probably find that they are being tended by "ant farmers" who drive away the predators. Ant baits are good if your ants will accept them but some ants ignore them.
I've found that you can spray with Neem oil and pay attention to the ground right around the plants. Neem should get rid of your aphids and the ants will not return till the Neem washes away or disapears some other way. Neem isn't very good at killing ants but they hate to cross ground with Neem on it. Best of all Neem is harmless to you.

 

[Dawsonhall]

attention to the ground right around the plants..

Can you explain? Do aphids also live in/on the ground? Spray the ground?

 

[digitS']

Hoodie knows what he's up to with neem. The last time I used it was on roses. Aphids like those, too.

Aphids don't live in the ground. They just hang around sucking the juices out of plants. Or, they sprout wings and go looking for new plants . . .

I use regular green Palmolive dishwashing soap at the rate of 3 tablespoons per gallon of water sometimes to kill aphids. Fill your container with water first then measure in the liquid soap.

Spray late in the day so that the sun will not damage the leaves. You can also rinse off the plants with clear water the next morning.

The soap dehydrates the aphids. Imagine hanging out for 12 hours, covered with liquid soap . . . :/. Of course, it can also dehydrate plant leaves so rinsing later helps. I also use insecticidal soap on aphids. Actually, either has worked well at killing the aphids but I suspect that the commercial product is easier on the plants.

. . . hope that helps.

Steve

 

[hoodat]

attention to the ground right around the plants..

Can you explain? Do aphids also live in/on the ground? Spray the ground?

Ironically, the biggest problem with aphids is not the aphids themselves. They are pretty slow moving and helpless against their numerous predators. Left to themselves they would be cleaned up by those predators in no time. Ants however, farm them for the sweet substances they secrete. They will even take aphids from one plant and move them to another. When a predator aproaches the aphids the ants attack it to protect the aphids so the predators never get a chance to do their job.
Spraying Neem on the ground around the plants keeps the ants from crossing it and climbing the plant to protect the aphids. Keep the ants away and the aphids will disappear.

To be blunt, you have ants in your plants.

 

[Ariel301]

I don't have an aphid problem (so far) but I do have an ant problem...What is this Neem product and where could I get it?

 

[hoodat]

I don't have an aphid problem (so far) but I do have an ant problem...What is this Neem product and where could I get it?

Neem is oil from the seed of the neem tree which grows in India and surrounding countries. It has been used in India for thousands of years as an insecticide, skin lotion and even internally.
It is becoming more popular every day since it is so useful and you should be able to get it at most nurseries or online. You have to be careful. Pure neem oil is rather expensive although a little goes a long way. Some companies cut their neem oil with petroleum oil to make it cheaper. So long as the petroleum is less than 50% it can be labeled neem oil but the ingredients label will tell you if it is pure or not.
Monsanto once tried to patent it but the Indian government fought them off.

 

[Holachicka]

To be blunt, you have ants in your plants.

You crack me up!

Well this post helps me because I just started noticing some aphids on my plants too. I know I have ants because they love my okra flowers, so I'll try putting a ring of DE aroung the plants that have aphids... If that doesn't work, I'll go for the neem! Thanks!

ETA oh, on a side note hoodat, the baby is learning words, so when she waves at your piture now, she also say "Hi Hoodat" though it comes out "IIII moo-ad"

 

[hoodat]

To be blunt, you have ants in your plants.

You crack me up!

Well this post helps me because I just started noticing some aphids on my plants too. I know I have ants because they love my okra flowers, so I'll try putting a ring of DE aroung the plants that have aphids... If that doesn't work, I'll go for the neem! Thanks!

ETA oh, on a side note hoodat, the baby is learning words, so when she waves at your piture now, she also say "Hi Hoodat" though it comes out "IIII moo-ad"

The kid needs a better role model than this old reprobate.