Aphids suck the sap from bean plants and other vegetables, weakening the plant. The secretions they secrete also damage the bean. Below we give you six tips on how to combat aphids on beans naturally and how to prevent an infestation.
The sooner the aphid infestation is discovered, the easier it can be combated
Recognizing aphids on beans
Beans are usually attacked by the black bean aphid (Aphis fabae) in spring. Field beans are particularly at risk. If the infestation is already advanced, it is very easy to recognize: large clusters of black, small beasts are hanging on the green shoots. But if you want to fight aphids successfully, you should recognize the infestation earlier. Indications of an aphid infestation:
- Ants climb up and down the plant
- shoots wither
- the leaves are covered with a shiny secretion
Combat aphids on beans with home remedies
The use of chemicals is not only harmful to you, your vegetables and all the small animals living in your garden, in most cases it is also unnecessary in the case of an aphid infestation. Because with a little patience and the regular use of inexpensive home remedies, the problem can be easily dealt with.
water
In a very early stage, it may be sufficient to spray plants infested with aphids vigorously or to immerse them entirely in water. In any case, this measure is recommended to support the others.
soft soap
Mix some soft soap or curd soap with water at a ratio of about 1:10. Spray this greasy solution on the affected plants several times a day.
vinegar
Mix vinegar 1:10 with water and spray the mixture on the plants. Vinegar works well in combination with soft soap (€44.90).
garlic
Garlic can be used in various ways against aphids: Garlic cloves next to the plant keep the aphids away. If the plant is infested, you can wrap garlic leaves around it, or you can boil chopped garlic cloves in water and spray the aphid-infested bean plants with the broth.
ladybug
You certainly don't have a few ladybugs up your sleeve, but you can order them online or at your garden center. The hardly ladybug-like larvae eat up to 100 aphids per day.
tips
Some garden sites on the Internet recommend using a tobacco brew to fight aphids. Nicotine is a powerful neurotoxin and kills the animals very efficiently. It was even used as a pesticide in the past. However, the plants also absorb the poison, so that it is then consumed by humans. Thus, nicotine is not a "natural home remedy" but a toxic pesticide that you should rather keep your hands off.