Cracked fruit and ants?

attml · July 1, 2011

I have been having an issue with some tomatoes cracking after a heavy rain (which is pretty normal). My problem is that after they crack I have been getting ants that are getting in the cracks and burrowing. There is nothing more dishearting than watching your first brandywine of the year grow and finally starting to color up only to have that happen! I was able to cut away the top half of the brandwine and was able to get a couple of slices. They were quite tasty, but you still don't feel as great about it as you would a non-cracked/ant compromised tomato! I had the same problem again last night with a couple of beautiful Paul Robeson's! I am wondering if there is anything out there that is organic that I could spray around my soil or on the tomato plants that would get rid of the ants that is not harmful to humans or that wouldn't damage my plants? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Mark

henry · July 1, 2011

Ground nutmeg makes a great, non-toxic ant repellent.

I have had luck useing nutmeg for ants.

Henry

les matzek · July 1, 2011

get some diatomaceous earth
and spread arount your garden
and the plants it will take of them.

goolge diatomaceous it wiil tell
you how to use it,good luck.

les

attml · July 1, 2011

Thanks for the replies!

starsevol · July 1, 2011

I have heard that the diamtomaceous earth is wonderful stuff. I had some friends that contracted bedbugs and it worked on them too.
From what I understand, it will kill anything with an exoskeliton but won't harm pets or people.

tomgirl · July 1, 2011

Be careful with DE though as it will also kill your bees. The best way to use it is to spray off anything on your plants ants/flies/ect then top your soil with sand and DE. Bees don't generally land in the soil. So it will get the ants before they climb the stalks. Or they should. If you have a lot of rain where you are it will need to be reapplied.

July 1, 2011	#1
attml Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Annapolis, Maryland Posts: 222	Cracked fruit and ants? I have been having an issue with some tomatoes cracking after a heavy rain (which is pretty normal). My problem is that after they crack I have been getting ants that are getting in the cracks and burrowing. There is nothing more dishearting than watching your first brandywine of the year grow and finally starting to color up only to have that happen! I was able to cut away the top half of the brandwine and was able to get a couple of slices. They were quite tasty, but you still don't feel as great about it as you would a non-cracked/ant compromised tomato! I had the same problem again last night with a couple of beautiful Paul Robeson's! I am wondering if there is anything out there that is organic that I could spray around my soil or on the tomato plants that would get rid of the ants that is not harmful to humans or that wouldn't damage my plants? Any suggestions would be appreciated! Mark

July 1, 2011	#2
henry Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Midway B.C. Canada Posts: 311	Ground nutmeg makes a great, non-toxic ant repellent. I have had luck useing nutmeg for ants. Henry __________________ Henry

July 1, 2011	#3
les matzek Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Landers, CA Posts: 191	get some diatomaceous earth and spread arount your garden and the plants it will take of them. goolge diatomaceous it wiil tell you how to use it,good luck. les

July 1, 2011	#5
starsevol Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 27	I have heard that the diamtomaceous earth is wonderful stuff. I had some friends that contracted bedbugs and it worked on them too. From what I understand, it will kill anything with an exoskeliton but won't harm pets or people.

July 1, 2011	#6
tomgirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hawaii Posts: 1	Be careful with DE though as it will also kill your bees. The best way to use it is to spray off anything on your plants ants/flies/ect then top your soil with sand and DE. Bees don't generally land in the soil. So it will get the ants before they climb the stalks. Or they should. If you have a lot of rain where you are it will need to be reapplied.