Hi all

I grow my strawberries in pots. Few days ago, I found a whole ant colony in one of the pots. I tried boric acid to kill them. It does not work at all. What should I do now?

Should I consider transplanting?

Thanks.
Allen

Most times, ants are present when aphids are there. Ants harvest the "honeydew" that aphids produce. Look for aphids. If you spot them, either blast with a strong stream of water and/or use an insectidial soap every week or so.

If no aphids, then mix a little sugar with the boric acid to attract them to the bait, instead of your strawberries. BTW: Go easy with the boric acid. Don't let any get on those berries. BA is safer than a lot of other interventions, but in significant quantities, it can be just as toxic as other chemical approches.
Try soaking the sugar/BA mix on cotton ball and inserting in a small pill bottle laid on it's side on soil's surface. That way it can attract them and avoid getting on your berries.

Good luck.

gardenz

Thanks. I will try this.

But, does it mean boric acid does not kill ants? If so, why BA?

I am ant-ticipating problems with ants in my yard in Hollister (very punny, aren't I?) and would like suggestions re preventing them from eating my freshly-planted veggies. We just moved here in Sept. and the former owner says ants ate her tomato plants last summer, and we have regular invasions in our kitchen/dining room. Scary chemicals not an option! I know they can't cross water and so am considering plastic planter dishes filled with water underneath my pots of vegs (no time to build raised beds yet). I too am a Zone 9. Let me know if you found a solution, or try the planter dish thing and let me know if that works for you. I'm going out to start potting this very afternoon.
rosythorn@charter.net