Basil – we have a problem (plus new chillies)

I was cooking my tea last night, which was meant to involve parsley, I went to the window sill where I keep my herbs and discovered both parsley plants were covered in tiny white specks, over every leaf and all over the soil. Needless to say they both went in the bin. I then checked my other herbs, mostly ok except for one of my beloved greek basil plants which had some of the white specks on it’s left side.

So, I managed to wash most of the specks off under the tap and I separated it from my other plants. I wasn’t totally sure what it was until I checked it again this morning – aphids. I have seen some flitting around my indoor plants recently but had been so far ok, until last night. I’ve got as much of the aphids off as I can and I’ve put the plant outside for the day (well away from my other veg) in the hope that some natural predators may finish them off for me. But thank goodness I found the eggs before they hatched, let alone the damage they’d have done to my plants, my flat would have been infested. It’s typical isn’t, just as the snail problem seems to be lessening (if I were a snail I wouldn’t want to risk going in my greenhouse right now, until I open the door to it in the mornings the temperature has recently been getting up to 40C, gently steamed snails then).

On a brighter note, chillies have started to appear on my chilli plants (which are also inside but so far aphid free). I am finding it absolutely fascinating seeing the chillies emerge from the flowers.