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alwyn
Member
United Kingdom
179 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Jun 2006 : 00:44:45
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| Does anyone have any idea where I can get hold of horticultural soft soap? I've tried googling it and get all sorts of weird and wonderful responses, but no suppliers. One blogger seeemed to think that Swarfega could be used, but seeing what that does to my hands after a session on the allotment, I'm not so sure! I've tried the usual - keeping a tin and putting the ends of bathroom soap in it with a bit of water, and it goes into a jelly, but somehow this always blocks the sprayer, there's never enough of it to wet the brassicas, and I'd like to do the job properly for once! |
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Tangent
Member
United Kingdom
340 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2006 : 01:35:07
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You can get it from Chempak Alwyn
The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the
same level of thinking we were at when we created them
Albert Einstein
www.organicplot.co.uk
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alwyn
Member
United Kingdom
179 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2006 : 19:28:42
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| Thanks Tangent - nothing like an answer straight away is there!! |
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Iver Hedake
Starting Member
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2006 : 21:00:31
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| Hi alwyn, I have used "Granny's" Original Soap flakes in the past, mixed in water to a thickish liquid, which you can spray on your veg. Don't mix it up too thick or it 'will' clog the sprayer. The soap flakes will degrade harmlessly into the environment after use, you can get them from your local Tesco's. |
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SweetCorn
Moderator
United Kingdom
2458 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2006 : 23:48:33
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and howz your head? makes me sad to think you've got a headache every time I look at your id. i had 20 years of headaches, and then I dumped the ****** and things got a lot worse before they got a lot better.
Sweetcorn |
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greengiant
Member
United Kingdom
181 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2006 : 09:41:58
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All this talk of soap flakes / soft soap makes me ask - how do you use it properly? - does anyone have a recipe and explanation of the uses for these products?
I posted a similiar question some time back - but it appears to have vanished - any ideas on soap use and effectivness versus those nasty substances on the counters around the garden centres.
Hoe Hoe Hoe!!!!
Jolly G |
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Jan and Rick
Member
United Kingdom
147 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2006 : 14:41:03
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| Fairy liquid worked for us last year |
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hilarys
Member
United Kingdom
301 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2006 : 17:55:50
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so at the risk of looking totally ignorant...
what is soap used for? (apart from the obvious)
it wasnt me...honest |
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SweetCorn
Moderator
United Kingdom
2458 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jun 2006 : 18:35:49
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I use soft soap liberally, but only on my orchids. I wash down the leaves and that kills the greenfly and makes them insect resistant for a little while, also looks good.
I guess on veggies it could be made into a spray to have the same effect on insects. It is also useful as an emulsifier for spraying oils, but again, I only use those on my orchids.
Sweetcorn |
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hilarys
Member
United Kingdom
301 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jun 2006 : 02:17:06
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thanks sweetcorn 
what a good idea...ill give it a go. (im still perplexed about erecting fleece before sowing carrot seed...cant see how id fit in the small enclosure as per Tangents post on another query of mine lol)
i think id better hire a smaller person to sow my stuff !!
hils
x
it wasnt me...honest |
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Tangent
Member
United Kingdom
340 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jun 2006 : 03:42:36
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Hi Hils,
Sow it first and then erect the barrier. It's just that you need it up before they start to grow, especially if you are going to thin them as this can attract the flies.
Hope that helps,
Lois
The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the
same level of thinking we were at when we created them
Albert Einstein
www.organicplot.co.uk
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hilarys
Member
United Kingdom
301 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jun 2006 : 08:17:16
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youre a star 
I was thinking..."wow my hips will NEVER fit in an enclosure that small" 
it wasnt me...honest |
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Iver Hedake
Starting Member
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jun 2006 : 08:27:07
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| Jan & Rick, Fairy Liquid works OK, but nowadays it is apparently not recommended so I hear, because it contains harmful chemicals. Though when I used it there didn't seem to be any bad effects! Anyone else got any views on Fairy Liquid? |
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Tangent
Member
United Kingdom
340 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jun 2006 : 12:35:56
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Soft Soap is soap. Fairy Liquid is detergent. I wouldn't want to use detergent myself. You can also get Savona from The Organic Gardening Catalogue
Remember only to spray infected areas as it works on contact only. The way it works is to block up the airholes so that the creature cannot breathe. So spraying it elsewhere on the plant is pointless.
This is from an HDRA factsheet:
Insecticidal soap, pyrethrum or derris can be used. Also the sprays based on rape seed oil, as this does not harm bees, ladybirds or lacewings. They are all contact insecticides which will only kill what they hit. For best results, drench the aphids thoroughly using a powerful sprayer. There is no benefit in spraying parts of the plant not infected.
Lois
The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the
same level of thinking we were at when we created them
Albert Einstein
www.organicplot.co.uk
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alwyn
Member
United Kingdom
179 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2006 : 11:29:30
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| Thanks Tangent in particular - not sure I want £15 worth of savona insecticidal soap every season - but it seems the best bet. Thaks to all who contributed also |
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Tangent
Member
United Kingdom
340 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jun 2006 : 14:58:06
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No problem
Glad I could help,
Lois
The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the
same level of thinking we were at when we created them
Albert Einstein
www.organicplot.co.uk
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Topic |
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Soft Soap
