Damn aphids!

Hi all
We have a pear tree that is doing really well. A few weeks ago I noticed that aphids (or something similar!) were living in the leaves. I sprayed them with diluted washing up liquid which seemed to work for a couple of weeks. Well now it is absolutely over run with them (see pics)
Can anyone recommend the best solution or bug spray and will it affect the fruit production in any way? We inherited it last year when we moved and it had a fabulous yeald so hoping for the same this year

 

Well I would just use an insecticide spray which states its OK for use on fruit and veg.

There are a few but probably most will be the same actual chemical, and they tend to be mostly in the ready mixed sprayers these days although you can get the concentrate if you look around.

 

Wow ..a pear tree
I love those the most

How big is it?

The question is relevant as it would dictate the type of tratment you will be physically able to apply

 

Hi Fai, yes we were lucky to inherit it with the house move. We cut it back this winter so it's probably only about 6.5 ft tall and not very wide at present. Had lovely blossom and the beginning of lots of pears at present with too many damn aphid eggs! My partner can reach the top of the tree so we could easily apply most things. I just wanted to know if anyone had tried and tested brand before I started buying

 

Ok i see, its a shorty that makes pesticide application much easier.

I make my own pesticides, and sprey them using a hand pumped pressure sprayer.
Remember that safety is paramount so protect your eyes and also wear gloves to protect your skin.

To avoid and discourage insects settling on your plants as well as kill them use a neam oil mix
Should be used well before any flowers apear.

Neam oil tends to stay on the plant, so it should be used on every leaf especially the underside of the leaf,
i wouldn't use it on the actual fruit if it will be consumed by people.

To kill them use Isopropyl Alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, both evaporate or brake down leaving no trace.

Mix
water 97%
Neam oil 1.5%
with a few drops of washing up liquid less than 0.5%
(it needs to be just simple washing up liquid, without antibacterial chemicals or extra cleaning chemicals added)
Kills the eggs as they hatch out of the leaf and deters insects from attacking your plant.

Or

You could use Isopropyl Alcohol mixed with water as it will kill the aphids on contact but evaporate leaving no harmful chemicals

Mix 20% Isopropyl Alcohol (aka pure rubbing alcohol)
80%water
And spray every leaf
Kills aphids on contact

Or

I mix with caution
⚠️ Must be done with protective eye wear and gloves)

98% water
2% (Hydrogen Peroxide 30% strength) aka liquid oxygen TM ( use with caution away from any flammable objects hydrogen peroxide is corrosive so you must not spill it at all)
Kills aphids on contact.

I never have nor shall i ever use any of the commercial pesticides as the plants I grow are for human consumption

I rotate the above treatments as aphids adapt to the pesticides they encounter.
And the above methods are rather effective and dont leave any toxic residues on the plant.

I keep some of my plants on the roof so they only encounter pests if i bring a new plants.

The 3 diffrent treatments i suggested above eradicate aphids on contact
Every leaf needs to be sprayed on bothe sides

aphids should be eradicate with 3 treatments spaced out by one week.

 

Could you clarify the acetone alcohol please. Are you mixing acetone with IPA?
Also, H2O2 at 30% isn't exactly rocket fuel. At that strength I use it to treat potential rot in banana and palm species
Acetone, isopropyl alcohol and hydrogen peroxide all share a common name
paper cut finder!

 

Thank you for alerting me to my error.

Isopropyl Alcohol not acetone
I corrected and clarified the post.

In regards to the low amount of H2O2, if done at night less is required as it brakes down slower due to no UV light being present.

 

Would suggest 30% peroxide be treated with respect, wear gloves and safety glasses.
First time I've heard it referred to as liquid oxygen which is normally down at -182°C, nor would I describe 30% hydrogen peroxide as flammable, it is an oxidising agent not a fuel.
Vinegar also finds paper cuts.

 

I would also check whether you have ants climbing into the tree. They seem to "farm" aphids-they're an utter pain in my garden.

I use SB invigorator. I feel like I'm constantly advertising it but it is good!

 

How does keeping plants on the roof keep them pest free?


2 treatments applied once a week for three weeks
Is that 6 treatments in all.
A commercial insecticide would do the job with one application, therefore exposing the plant to far less chemicals.

 

I sterilised all the soil used for my strawberries and sage plants on the roof.
Being a few floors from ground level the only pests i have to worry about are the ones with wings

by using Neam oil and centipeds they tend to stay away.
Also as the space is accessible to less insects the centipedes deal with the few that make it very quickly.

Thank you for pointing that out
I have edited the post to clarify it further.

You are correct but i prefer using somthing that will not leave a trace that way the plants i produce can safely be consumed.

 

Thank you for pointing that out.

A lot of people do Google "hydrogen peroxide liquid oxygen"

Yes you are correct actual liquid oxygen is O2 and not used as a pesticide

and H2O2 is an oxidising agent,
with the ability to ignite combustible materials, spilling it on a flammable substance can cause an immediate fire

 

Fully agree with that.
By the way @Fai where abouts are you based?

I know and before the internet I had hair Google and other search engines are bad enough, but Amazon and Ebay sellers of chemicals! My cousin once bought a litre of pure nicotine to make her own vaping liquid.

 

This hydrogen peroxide, I'm getting confused, what is the safe dilution for spray use on plants, and any plants that it cannot be used on.

I have actually tried a mix of meths and water in a desperate attempt to kill red spider mites, not sure it was very effective.

 

Yes the extra effort is well worth it.
What is the point of growing foor then spraying it with poison
might as well buy the tainted fruit and veg from tesco.

100% nicotine you say ...wow that is shocking

Im based just off the world famous Abby Road London UK