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Europe , slovenia

Hello,
has anyone found a cheap way to prevent mosaic virus? I’m pretty sure aphids are causing my problem. I have zero squash bugs and zero cucumber beetles. I use sticky traps, spray every few days, keep the patch clean, and disinfected my 2025 tools with a 10% bleach solution. I’m also concerned the dandelions around my patch could be hosting the virus, but I honestly don’t know which plants can host it. Any tips for better aphid control would be greatly appreciated!

8/22/2026 10:38:27 AM

Germany

Navadni vratic. This year I wanted to fight insects the organic way. In past years, I have had issues with aphids and sometimes with mosaic virus, and the insecticides I used to use basically poison the aphids after they sucked on the plants (but then it is too late, for the aphid AND for the plant, if the aphids carry a virus). So, last year in August I collected heaps of tansy, dried it, and from beginning of June on I sprayed a tansy brew every two weeks (trying to cover the entire leaves with the spray). There is just one specialized variety of aphids, the tansy aphid, which can cope with the contents of that herb, but other aphids and various other insects avoid tansy because of the compounds contained in the plant. So, the tansy brew should be capable of repelling aphids (rather than just poisoning aphids after their first drink). This year, I must say that I have not seen many aphids in my pumpkin patch. In order to save time, I do not do the tansy spray as a separate spray, I combine it with a foliar feeding (K,P,N, trace minerals) instead.
As to collecting tansy, I used the herb from the past year just as long as no fresh tansy was available. As soon as this year's tansy started flowering (that's the time when the plants contain most of the active ingredients), I collected fresh tansy.

[Last edit: 08/22/26 12:45:54 PM]

8/22/2026 12:42:45 PM

Europe , slovenia

Thanks for the tip
I’m definitely going to give the tansy a try next year. I like the idea of keeping the aphids away instead of killing them after they’ve already had a chance to feed on the plant.

I’ll probably collect some tansy if i can find any.

I’m also going to try getting some fresh infected tissue tested to find out which mosaic virus I actually have. Then I can hopefully figure out which weeds around my patch might be carrying it.

Thanks again, really appreciate the advice!

8/22/2026 4:28:13 PM

Germany

Just some additional info: Since a couple of years, I always plant some plants of Nicandra physalodes (not frost hardy, I cannot transplant them into the garden before middle of May and need to protect them when there is a frost forecast) somewhere in my garden and near the pumpkin patch (5 - 7 plants, scattered across the patches). They are meant to attract insects (such as white fly) and then the insects will die when they suck on that plant. Perhaps it could be a nice addition to the tansy spray (which repels aphids from the plants) to offer them an attractive alternative (where they can have their last drink).

[Last edit: 08/23/26 12:01:46 PM]

8/23/2026 12:01:23 PM

Europe , slovenia

Will try all of this!

thank you!

8/23/2026 12:31:58 PM