Aphids

I've noticed a few aphids on a very young plant , has anyone ever used a neem oil and soap solution to get rid of them? I've heard its a better alternative to spraying with fairy liquid.

 

As Mr Titchmarsh once said:-
"Fairy Liquid produces Very Clean Aphids"

 

I think you are better off using Soft / Horticultural soap (phosphate based) rather than Fairly Liquid (Detergent based). Adding Neem oil (from what I have read recently) may also help.

But its a "contact" solution, and only does any good with the bugs that you make contact with. New ones that arrive / hatch tomorrow may not be effected. So you have to repeat often - which is fine if you only have a few plants, but in order to only have to spray once a fortnight, or there-abouts, you would need a chemical that is systemic and stays in the plant for long enough to knock out successive visitors / generations of bugs.

 

What about introducing plants that attract aphids predators? Has anyone ever used this to any success?

 

I'm sure it helps ... but "companion planting" has never been a good enough "cure" for anything for me to rely on it without resorting to chemical warfare!