How to deal with aphids on raspberries at different stages of the growing season?

Aphids on raspberries bring a lot of trouble to gardeners. A small pest multiplies very quickly, settles not only on the leaves, but also on the stems. The laid eggs of females easily tolerate the cold and hibernate right on the shoots. Larvae and adult insects feed on the cell sap of the bush, which, as a result, lacks nutrients and weakens. Affected raspberries have decreased immunity to viral infections. With a strong defeat, the young twigs dry out completely, and the bush dies. Many methods of aphid control have been developed and studied, involving the use of both folk remedies and the achievements of the chemical industry.

How to spot aphids on raspberries?

You can find aphids in raspberries by careful examination. It is important to observe not only the outside of the leaves, but also the inside (back). It is there that the centers of the spread of insects are often located.

Also, signs of damage by a pest are considered:

• cessation of the formation of inflorescences, as well as their fall;
• deformation and shortening of young shoots;
• the appearance on the leaf plates of white mucus with a characteristic shiny bloom;
• foliage curls, turns yellow and falls over time.

Inexperienced gardeners often make the same mistake - procrastination. At the slightest sign of the appearance of aphids in the raspberry tree, it is necessary to take urgent measures to destroy the pest. If this is not done, then there is a risk of being left not only without tasty berries, but also without raspberries.

Sources of raspberry aphid infection

Aphids can get into the raspberry tree along with the planting material that was previously cultivated in production areas. Also, the pest actively migrates from neighboring garden plots, affecting plants not only in the open ground, but also in the greenhouse (insects enter there through open vents and ventilation).

The reason for the invasion of aphids in the raspberry tree is a violation of the rules of agricultural technology of this plant. The main mistake is planting shrubs in shade and partial shade, as well as the lack of preventive treatments, thinning of the bushes.

Aphid-resistant varieties

Even the most hardy raspberry varieties with good disease resistance cannot guarantee complete absence of aphid infestation. However, there are varieties on which the risk of the appearance of this pest is minimal:

• Tarusa;
• Purple Haze;
• Aboriginal;
• Beauty of Russia;
• Stolichnaya;
• Moroseyka.

It is preferable to purchase planting material in a nursery, since there it undergoes mandatory phytosanitary checks. In such places, constant monitoring is carried out for the appearance of pests and pathogens on shrubs.

Raspberry treatment against aphids

Even a healthy raspberry tree requires timely preventive treatments. For this purpose, they resort to using the drug "Inta-vir". For 10 liters of water, 1 tablet of the product is taken, after which the prepared preparation is sprayed with raspberry bushes using a spray bottle or a broom. For every 10 m² planting area consumed no more than 1.5 liters of solution.

Aphid-control chemicals have worked well. With their help, they even fight large pest colonies. In this case, you must strictly follow the recommendations indicated on the packaging, and adhere to safety measures. Excessive enthusiasm for chemicals can lead to the fact that the crop will be inedible, and many harmful substances will accumulate in the soil.

When carrying out chemical treatments, not only aphids in the raspberry tree are destroyed, but also beneficial insects. For example, ladybugs that eat the same aphids. For this purpose, experienced gardeners recommend using exclusively liquid insecticidal preparations for systemic exposure.

Among the chemicals, the most effective in the fight against the already spread aphids were shown by:

• "Antitlin";
• Green Soap;
• "Karbofos";
• "Kilzar";
• "Nitrofen".

With the help of "Antitlin" it is possible to destroy not only the aphids themselves on raspberries, but also its larvae. However, it is allowed to use the drug only before flowering and after harvesting. For 10 liters of water, take 450 ml of the drug, mix thoroughly and spray the plantings.

Green soap is suitable for use only during the growing season. 300 ml of green soap is stirred in 10 l of water and raspberries are treated with the prepared mixture.

"Karbofos" is able to destroy aphids at any stage of plant development, however, spraying is recommended only before flowering or after harvesting. To obtain a solution in 10 liters of water, stir 80 g of "Karbofos".

Raspberries are sprayed with Kilzar only before flowering. The solution is prepared from 10 l of water and 50 ml of a protective agent.

"Nitrofenom" destroy the eggs that the aphid laid in the raspberry bush. Work is carried out in autumn or spring, with the beginning of snow melting. As soon as the first buds appear on the shrubs, the chemical can no longer be used. The solution is prepared from 10 l of water and 30 ml of the drug.

Folk remedies for the destruction of aphids on raspberries

Supporters of healthy farming prefer to fight pests with proven folk remedies that do not contain chemicals, are completely environmentally friendly. In addition, they can be used even during flowering, fruiting and harvesting.

• The most popular remedy is soapy water. Laundry soap is used for its soap solution. For 10 liters of water, you need a bar weighing 200 g, grated. The mixture is thoroughly mixed - and in the evening you can treat garden raspberries from aphids.
• A decoction of tomato tops is prepared as follows: 1 kg of green mass is taken for 10 liters of water and left to infuse for 4 hours. Next, the mixture is put on fire, brought to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. The resulting broth is infused at room conditions for 3 hours, then filtered and applied to the raspberry bushes.
• The infusion of potato tops should be prepared for at least a day. 1 kg of tops is soaked in 10 liters of water and left to infuse, after which the raspberries are filtered and sprayed with the resulting product. The infusion of tobacco is prepared in a similar way, only this plant will need 400 g for the indicated amount of water.
• A decoction of chamomile is prepared from 1 kg of grass (the plant is used as a whole, with all parts) and 10 liters of water. The resulting mixture is brought to a boil, insisted for 12 hours, after which another 30 liters of water is diluted. Raspberry is treated with this composition to prevent the appearance of aphids.
• Gall aphids are defeated by spraying shrubs with celandine infusion. It is prepared from 3.5 kg of grass and 10 liters of warm water. The mixture is infused for a day, after which the raspberries are sprayed.
• Wood ash not only helps to get rid of aphids, but also enriches the soil with nutrients. In addition, garden ants, which can damage the root system and raspberry stems, cannot tolerate such a remedy. A solution is prepared from 3 liters of water and 500 g of ash. You can use such a tool immediately after its preparation, by filtering before use. To achieve a greater effect, 20 g of liquid soap is poured into the resulting solution and left to infuse for a day.
• It will not be possible to destroy aphids with a solution of ammonia, but it is easy to scare away. 40 ml of the drug is dissolved in 10 liters of water, a little washing powder is added there so that the mixture lingers on the leaves and stems. It is recommended to carry out preventive treatment once every 14 days.
• Garlic infusion is prepared from 200 g of peeled cloves and 1 liter of warm water. The product is prepared for 5 days in a well-closed container, then it is filtered and necessarily diluted at the rate of 250 ml of the prepared infusion per 10 liters of pure water.

Aphids often attack raspberries and can leave the grower without a crop. Experienced summer residents recommend not to wait for the appearance of the pest, but to carry out preventive measures in advance, observe the conditions of agricultural technology and recommendations for care.