Ants on pepper plant

[Purechick]

There are lots of ants on my pepper plants and I think they are laying eggs on the plants. I've noticed that ants always seem to be attracted to my pepper plants. Any suggestions on how to keep them off my pepper plants?

Thanks in advance!

 

[americanvalkyrie]

If you don't want to go organic... spray pesticide on the stems.

If you want to go organic... sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the dirt around the plant. A good, thick ring will work well, and won't harm your plant at all. But if you water, it will wash away, and you'll have to reapply. Or you could use the old aphid trick... not sure how well it works on ants, but will probably at least ruin the flavor for them. Mix 1 part food-grade liquid soap (dishwashing liquid) with 10 parts water and stir gently to mix. Put in a spray bottle and spray liberally over the plant.

 

[Purechick]

Can it be any kind of DE?

 

[americanvalkyrie]

I'm sure it could, especially since you wash it off before eating the pepper, anyway. They sell food grade, but I believe that's intended to actually be ingested as a therapeutic treatment. I have food grade anyway, just because I want to be able to sprinkle DE the same place that my chickens run, and not worry.

 

[Purechick]

Okay, I'll try it then! Thanks!

 

[americanvalkyrie]

You're welcome! And you just reminded me... my pumpkins just started blooming, and I noticed one of my female blossoms was full of ants. I don't know how much they'll affect outcome of the pumpkins, but it's sure worth throwing some DE underneath my pumpkins!