Nasturtiums and runner beans

[Katisha]

Last year i had loads of aphids on my runner beans. Im reading that putting nasturtiums in alongside would divert the aphids. Is this true or does it just mean more aphids heading in the same general direction eating both?

I don’t think aphids head en masse. There are a few aphids with wings. They land, and if it’s a good place, they breed to produce wingless aphids. The baby aphids are born pregnant so multiplication is very rapid. So I don’t think it would encourage more to arrive, and diversion away from another plant seems plausible.

i’ve heard the theory as regards broad beans and nasturtiums, which makes sense as both broad beans are fed on by blackfly (a type of aphid). What were you getting on your runners? Green aphids or blackfly? If greenfly , I don’t think they be attracted to go to nasturtiums instead.

They were black- might just push in a few nasturtiums and see what happens. Useful info thanks!