[mandyr]

Hello!
I'm pretty new to growing vegetables, so forgive my ignorance! Yesterday I went to dig over the veggie patch in preparation for putting my tomato plants out. I found an abundance of both red and black ants in the soil, there is obviously a nest but I couldn't find it. I just wondered whether I can use any ant powder etc to get rid of them, or will this harm the veggies? (runner beans, spring onions, brocolli, tomatos, radishes). If I were to leave them, would it harm the veggies anyway?

All replies gratefully recieved! 
Cheers!
Mandy

[mandyr]

Is this post in the right place?

[cleversquirrel]

Hi there
 
   I am no expert but i have had ants in my allotment for years and have used powders but with no any effect on them nor on my vegetables,all i can say is that when I have observed there activity they seem only interested in cultivating affids and have known them to pinch seeds,hole rows of them.i think you would be onto a losing battle if you tried to pick a fight with them.

all the best
Squirrel   

[aelf]

Don't worry about it, the ants won't bother your growing plants. It does mean that your soil is probably on the dry side tho. may need a bit of tlc, a good dig over, add some organic matter and watering should discourage them

Aelf

[Ice]

Horrible when they ignore you.

No-one was ignoring, they just didn't feel able to offer an opinion.  If you wait long enough on here three opinions come along at once. 

[Rampant_Weasel]

i grow sunflowers so the ants move the aphids onto them, worked well so far.i get aphid damage on the beetroot leaves but as soon as the sunflowers are a good size the damage stops so sunflowers work

[Oliver]

..... can use any ant powder etc to get rid of them, or will this harm the veggies?

Here is one of the three replies coming along 
the ants will do more damage to your plants than the ant powder, but the ant powder won't do much damage to the ants!

If you find a nest dig it over and leave the eggs exposed, or transfer them to a plantpot saucer and the birds will eat them - so it pays to make friends with robins and blackbirds.

When you get real ant infestation this is generally on broad beans as they farm aphids, particularly black ones (blackfly). If you see a trail of ants follow them and you will find a colony of aphids and ants busily milking them of honeydew.  To my knowledge, the type of ants we get in this country don't nick al lotment seeds :blink: