The nasturtium is very easy to care for, but also extremely susceptible to aphids. You can fight them in many ways.
You love nasturtiums? You are not alone, because aphids also like to settle on the plant. In themselves, the aphids cannot harm the nasturtium, but those who use them for consumption should act quickly.
There are various ways to combat aphids on nasturtiums. If used correctly, there is a good chance that you can continue to enrich your salad with the spicy leaves of the nasturtium in the future.
4 Measures against aphids on nasturtium
❶ Water jet against aphids
A moderate infestation of aphids can often be fought surprisingly easily, namely with a jet of water. The jet should be hard enough to flush the pests off the undersides of the leaves, but not so hard that it damages the nasturtium itself. Try this purely mechanical type of combat first. If successful, you'll get rid of the aphids in an instant.
❷ Nettle broth against aphids
In the early stages of aphid infestation, stinging nettle stock has also proven effective as a control agent. You can easily make such a broth yourself. Simply put fresh, finely chopped nettles in a bucket, fill up with water and let the plant parts rest for a day. Now fill a spray bottle with the liquid and spray the nasturtium with it daily and extensively.
» Warning: Nettle stock has a strong smell. Therefore, only use this method of combating aphids on nasturtiums in the garden and not on specimens on the balcony. Before you eat the nasturtium, you should definitely wait a few days until the unpleasant smell has dissipated.
❸ Mixture of alcohol and soap against aphids
An alcohol-soap mix offers a little less nuisance to your nose and more effectiveness against aphids. It consists of a liter of water, 100 milliliters of alcohol and a tablespoon of soft soap. If your nasturtiumdo not eat, you can use spirits instead of alcohol.
If you would like to enjoy the leaves later, choose a high-proof clear schnapps as an alternative to spirit. Spray the alcohol-soap mixture onto the nasturtium once a day with the spray bottle. The chances of success are better if you carry out the treatment in the evening hours after sunset.
❹ Beneficial insects against aphids
The use of beneficial insects is very effective in the fight against annoying aphids. However, this only applies in closed rooms, for example in the greenhouse. Unfortunately, outdoors you have no guarantee that the little creatures will actually feast on the aphids on the nasturtium.
If you decide to use beneficial insects, seven-spot ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) and common lacewings (Chrysoperla carnea) are particularly greedy and therefore suitable helpers. You can get ladybugs and lacewings for little money in garden shops.