[andy43]

Is ant powder safe to be sprinkled over broad beans ( or other plants) to get rid of the ants  as i am told that the ants bring on aphids?

i know it sounds stupid, but i am a little confused

[peapod]

Ants do farm aphids, but I wouldnt sprinkle ant powder on my veg. Try digging up the ant nest or pour boiling water into it

[paintedlady]

Ant powder is an insecticide which will affect other crawling stuff as well as ants.  Also, if you read the instructions, I'm sure it tells you not to use near food ... if the ant infestation is pretty bad, perhaps try to find the entrance to their nest and put some down rather than over plants.  I don't think I'd like to use it.

As for blackfly, there are tips to reduce these-
a)  after flowering, nip off the tender tips (where aphids would congregate anyway to suck the sap)
b)  use a jet of water (hosepipe or powerful spray) to wash them off
c)  a little detergent in a spray bottle is very effective
d)  I found loads of ladybird larvae on my broadbeans last year, so I left them to it 

[andy43]

Thank you very much for your quick replys and sorting out the confusion.

I am sure that i would not have sprinkled ant powder on my plants but i needed
to hear from others, just to clear up this notion.

I will definately follow the tips i have been given.
Thanks again

[woodburner]

It's the aphids that are the real problem not the aphids. The ants do move the aphids onto new shoots, but only to get more honeydew.
Bob Flowerdew discovered a good way of dealing with aphids, when there are ants around. Dab jam or other sugary stuff on the axils of the bean plants, so the ants get their fill of sugar and eat the aphids for protein!

[DD.]

It's the aphids that are the real problem not the aphids. 

So, it's the ants then!

(Sorry!)

[PAULW]

Dont put the ant powder over the plants but around them on the ground

[Roll Roll]

Last year we had an ant infestation in our kitchen :blink:. We brought a ant trap/poisin station from the supermarket for a small sum, about 3 or 4 pounds for 2. The ants loved it, they went in it ant took all the poison back to their "home". Within hours the ants numbers declined, by the following day they had all gone.
 I think this was made for indoor use but if you covered it, I can't see why it can't be used outside. That way it dosn't come into contact with you plants or soil.