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Post by johnrf on May 27, 2015 17:14:26 GMT -5
I had 4 broccoli plants in a small area of the garden. I was going to thin out 2 of them. Today I saw that 2 plants had died. When I looked at one of the survivors the base was covered with ants. Are the ants killing my broccoli? Anyone else have this experience? Any suggestions?
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Post by desertwoman on May 27, 2015 17:30:36 GMT -5
What kind of ants? I have had plants be destroyed by red fire ants, but not tiny black ants.
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Post by Mumsey on May 27, 2015 19:28:17 GMT -5
Never had this happen, weird!
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Post by James on May 27, 2015 22:20:30 GMT -5
I looked up Ant on Wikipedia. Good read.
I don't know if the ants would kill your broccoli.
You might want to do something to get the ants to leave?
OK folks what is your favorite remedy?
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Post by kimmsr🕊 on May 28, 2015 6:38:17 GMT -5
The ants most likely did not kill those broccoli plants and they may be there because there are Aphids on the plants. However, if the ants have constructed a large nest, which could exposed the plant roots to too much air, that might have caused them to die.
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Post by gakaren on May 28, 2015 9:00:14 GMT -5
I think I agree with Kimm!
Keep "watering" the ants and they will normally move. Not boiling water, just a jet stream to cave in any "nest" there.
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Post by johnrf on May 28, 2015 12:44:12 GMT -5
Small black ants, thankfully we don't have fire ants. The plants I pulled had obvious root damage. And today it looks as if the remaining plant is growing out of an anthill,which wasn't there yesterday. So, it seemed to be root damage, the plant was wilted. Never paid much attention to ants in the garden except when I'm weeding and disturb an anthill and they get all over me. I did not see any aphids on the plants. I've "chased" ants off the patio with boiling water in the past. Since the remaining plants aren't going to last I think I'll dig up the area and see what's going on.
Thanks for the advice. I'll update...
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Post by desertwoman on May 28, 2015 21:02:44 GMT -5
This is interesting to me. We have a tree that is half dead in an area riddled with small black ant hills and two red ant hills
I know it has gotten plenty enough water (and it is a drought tolerant tree: Chinese Pistache)) and I have 'wondered' if the ants could be the culprits. I'll be interested in what you find after you dig up, john.
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Post by johnrf on Jun 1, 2015 13:58:36 GMT -5
So I had 2 plants left. One I pulled yesterday. The ants appear to gone but I did water the bed heavily. Looks as if the last plant might survive. And that would be fine with me. My wife and I are not big fans of broccoli so one plant would be plenty. The roots were obviously damaged. I tried posting some pictures but they are too large. I'll post them if and when I figure out how...
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Post by kimmsr🕊 on Jun 2, 2015 5:51:50 GMT -5
Ants, all species, will eat anything, but most of the species we have here eat mostly dead plant tissue so most likely they did not do the damage to your Broccoli roots. Other things that you may have could be Nematodes, Wireworms, Voles, etc. Often diagnosing a problem is more involved than blaming the first thing you see. Ants, and many other of the beneficial insects, often get blamed for damage by people that see just them where the damage has been done when further and a more comprehensive look for the culprit is needed.
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Post by Tomato Z on Jun 2, 2015 8:54:51 GMT -5
My neighbor and I have used ground cinnamon to keep ants away from plants. She was worried about 2 of her trees that had ants crawling all over the base of the trees. Sprinkling cinnamon moved them somewhere else.
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Post by brownrexx on Jun 2, 2015 9:16:44 GMT -5
Ants are drawn to wound sites on plants, whether it is a tree oozing sap or a plants roots with damage to them. I think that your broccoli had some root damage and the ants just showed up to take advantage of the free meal. They are opportunists.
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Post by tbird on Jun 2, 2015 9:25:28 GMT -5
I have had ants set up house in my garden beds, and plants right in the midst do die. Maybe the ants take it out for the real-estate?
Watering profusely several times has had them move on. Perhaps if they are deep enough into the earth, dessertwoman, the watering is ineffective?
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Post by OregonRed on Jun 2, 2015 10:32:27 GMT -5
cinnamon, interesting....
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Post by johnrf on Jun 2, 2015 10:32:40 GMT -5
I think I agree with the above posts. Something damaged the roots and the ants were attracted to either the damage or maybe even the pests. Nematodes seem the best explanation since I only saw ants. I guess I have to plant more marigolds or buy one of the little sponges that claim to have millions of beneficial nematodes.
As usual, thanks for all the advice.
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