Black & Blue

Pests & beneficial insects

🐛 Prone to: Aphids

Aphids

Aphididae

Curled leaves, sticky honeydew and ants on patrol — usually with something already eating them.

, Whitefly

Whitefly

Aleyrodidae

A puff of white when you brush the leaf, and stickiness underneath.

.

Attract Hoverflies

Hoverflies

Syrphidae

The adults only drink nectar. It is the larvae that eat the aphids.

, Lacewings

Lacewings

Chrysopidae

Golden-eyed adults that mostly drink; larvae that hunt like small alligators.

, Ladybugs

Ladybugs

Coccinellidae

The one predator here where the adults hunt as hard as the larvae do.

, Parasitic wasps

Parasitic wasps

Braconidae, Ichneumonidae and relatives

Pinhead-sized, stingless, and lethal to aphids and caterpillars from the inside.

to keep them in check — plant African MarigoldGreat, AngelicaFair and AniseGood nearby.

🌼 Beneficial companion — draws Hoverflies

Hoverflies

Syrphidae

The adults only drink nectar. It is the larvae that eat the aphids.

, Parasitic wasps

Parasitic wasps

Braconidae, Ichneumonidae and relatives

Pinhead-sized, stingless, and lethal to aphids and caterpillars from the inside.

that help control Aphids

Aphids

Aphididae

Curled leaves, sticky honeydew and ants on patrol — usually with something already eating them.

,

on neighbouring plants.

Growing from seed

Start Black & Blue indoors about 10 weeks before your last frost. Seeds usually come up in around 21 days. Move seedlings out once the danger of frost has passed, in full sun, spaced about 60 cm apart. Expect the first blooms in roughly 120 days.

Keep track of the seeds you own.

Companion Planting

• 
  Coral Bells
  

  Coral BellsExcellent pair

  • ❧Coral Bells attracts Hoverflies and Parasitic wasps, which prey on the Aphids that attack Black & Blue
  • ❧Black & Blue draws Bees and Bumblebees and more that improve pollination for both
  • ❧Coral Bells acts as living mulch, keeping soil moist and weeds down around Black & Blue
• 
  Red Mustard
  

  Red MustardExcellent pair

  • ❧Red Mustard attracts Hoverflies and Parasitic wasps, which prey on the Aphids and Whitefly and more that attack Black & Blue
  • ❧Red Mustard suppresses pests that trouble Black & Blue
  • ❧Red Mustard acts as living mulch, keeping soil moist and weeds down around Black & Blue
• 
  Wasabina
  

  WasabinaExcellent pair

  • ❧Wasabina attracts Hoverflies and Parasitic wasps, which prey on the Aphids and Whitefly and more that attack Black & Blue
  • ❧Wasabina suppresses pests that trouble Black & Blue
  • ❧Wasabina acts as living mulch, keeping soil moist and weeds down around Black & Blue

How to grow Black & Blue

1. Sow10 weeks before frost
2. Germinates21 days
3. Space60 cm apart
4. GrowFull sun
5. Harvest~120 days

Water: Medium · Height: 150 cm · Soil: Rich, moist, well-draining