Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: qualitynotquantity on June 17, 2013, 22:12

Title: Ants eating my rhubarb?!
Post by: qualitynotquantity on June 17, 2013, 22:12

Can someone help another newbie?

I planted a rhubarb crown a couple of months ago and every so often, I'm finding a stalk is eaten clean off by what looks like ants? It's always near to the crown and I would welcome any advice about what to do?

Tried to post a photograph but it's too big a file?

Title: Re: Ants eating my rhubarb?!
Post by: qualitynotquantity on June 17, 2013, 22:14

There we go...

Title: Re: Ants eating my rhubarb?!
Post by: surbie100 on June 18, 2013, 10:22

It looks more like weevils than ants to me - round bodies and pointy snouts? If it is, have a look on the RHS pages for non-chemical weevil control - most sprays can't be used on edibles.

I'm sure someone with a better idea will come along soon.

Title: Re: Ants eating my rhubarb?!
Post by: qualitynotquantity on June 19, 2013, 21:10

Hi surbie100, checked again and they definitely look like ants?

Title: Re: Ants eating my rhubarb?!
Post by: grinling on June 19, 2013, 21:34

if ants, put some oil of cloves in a watering can of water and they will move on.

Title: Re: Ants eating my rhubarb?!
Post by: qualitynotquantity on June 21, 2013, 10:46

Thanks grinling, will try that.

Title: Re: Ants eating my rhubarb?!
Post by: savbo on June 21, 2013, 11:42

the ants will be feeding on the sugars in the rhubarb but I suspect they didn't cause the damage themselves... otherwise we would all be losing our rhubarb to ants. Slugs? Or wind damage? I lost quite a lot of leaves recently after the big leaves got battered about in heavy wind and rain

sav