"Alan Gould" wrote in message
...
In article , J Jackson
writes

: Most of the "alternative controls" are either con tricks or old wives'
: tales.

Pretty sweeping statement. Though I'm willing to concede that only a
chemical solution will kill all the aphids
Possibly true but as an organic grower I don't set out to kill aphids,
only to deter them. I use a foliar application of nettle infusion and it
always works for me. After the infusion has done its work as a repellent

Oh really? So, given that the aphids on your blackcurrants probably wont
have wings and will be producing new young, how would repelling work for the
ones that are there, that are breeding, and cant go anywhere else?

(not an insecticide) it is ingested through the leaves and it acts as a
plant tonic and provider of plant nutrients. Organic, safe beneficial
and free. Have a look at the urg nettle FAQ at:
http://www.nugget.demon.co.uk/MetaFAQ/nettle.html

Ah it stays neatly on the surface and come off safely when washed does
it?
No take up internally at all? etc etc

No, manufactured chemical pesticides and insecticides are ingested
through leaves and roots of plants. Then they enter the food chain.

So are non-manufactured (ie organic) pesticides. The only difference is that
organic ones generally have been through little or no testing, whilst
manufactured ones have had extensive testing. Though FWIW when organic
pesticides (Or just extracts from plants)are tested they generally turn out
to have similar levels of toxicity (such as causing cancer) as manufactured
ones. Some far higher. Unsurprising when the organic ones generally have
been selected over millions of years to be toxic to insects or mammals.

--
Tumbleweed

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