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Ants eating all the ripe strawberries...

stevek_bathstevek_bath Posts: 51
in Fruit & veg
Hi folks,

Aside from the weeds in our new(ish) allotment we've inherited lots of strawberry plants.
They're ripening well but alas there seem to be thousands of red ants getting to the fruits before we can.

I've tried putting down a couple of bait stations ("Ant Stop" branded) that I've used successfully in the house before when we had ants coming in - but no joy.

Any tips of something safe to use on a raised bed in our allotment that won't impact the strawb plants/fruits?

Thanks

Steve

Posts

  • DaffydillyDaffydilly Posts: 78
    Try netting over strawberries...it may be the birds!  I always take runners every year and plant those to replace strawbs.  Do you have any idea of the age of these plants?  I find they are only good for a couple of years and after that lots of problems can set in.
    Maybe others have better ideas.....
    Here, there and everywhere
  • stevek_bathstevek_bath Posts: 51
    Daffydilly said:
    Try netting over strawberries...it may be the birds!  I always take runners every year and plant those to replace strawbs.  Do you have any idea of the age of these plants?  I find they are only good for a couple of years and after that lots of problems can set in.
    Maybe others have better ideas.....

    Thanks for the reply. 
    Definitely the ants - a couple of the fruits I've picked have been covered in them and can see hundreds of them marching around on the membrane the plants are poking through. 

    No idea on age - the few strawbs I've managed to grab before the ants have been ripe and sweet though. If I can stop the ants getting to them first they seem to be in good order. 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I was weeding my netted strawberry bed yesterday and there were red ants appearing almost every weed I pulled, but the ripe strawberries were ok.

    It may be the birds are having a peck and exposing the sweet fruity juices inside and that is what is attracting the ants - just a thought

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • stevek_bathstevek_bath Posts: 51
    Pete.8 said:
    I was weeding my netted strawberry bed yesterday and there were red ants appearing almost every weed I pulled, but the ripe strawberries were ok.

    It may be the birds are having a peck and exposing the sweet fruity juices inside and that is what is attracting the ants - just a thought
    Interesting - haven't noticed birds showing any interest but perhaps when we're not there. I'll pop some netting over and see if that makes a difference.
  • DaffydillyDaffydilly Posts: 78
    Ants are probably eating thrips from strawbs.  It`s a constant fight in the allotment eh?

    Try these plants that repel ants. Peppermint, rosemary, thyme, lavender, tansy, pennyroyal, the common yarrow, and garlic.


    Or  Nemasys for repelling ants.  Order online


    Good luck

    Here, there and everywhere
  • stevek_bathstevek_bath Posts: 51
    Thanks! I've ordered some Nemasys now and will move some rosemary nearer the strawberry plants and see if they do the trick.
  • DaffydillyDaffydilly Posts: 78
     ;)  :)
    Here, there and everywhere
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