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Chromester

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
I'm having a great crop this year. I'm not complaining but there are so many I can't pick then fast enough. In getting a lot of ants on and in the figs . How can I stop the ants. The season is almost over in New Jersey. Nights getting cold. Please info for next season
bamafig

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
tanglefoot maybe?  depending on the number of trunks as far as practicality.
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zone 8
4 (local) Celeste, Papa John, LSU Purple, Green Ischia, Brunswick, italian honey,  BT,
Panache, Deanna, LSU Black, O'Rourke

Wish list: Chicago Hardy, VDB, RDB
pino

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Organza bags applied tightly keep the ants off the fig. 
When the fig is ripe the ants still come and hover around the bag letting you know it is time to pick it.
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Pino, zone 6, Niagara,  JCJ Acres
Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.
cjmach1973

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Try a one inch layer of Vaseline on the main trunk, and re-do it if it gets washed off
drew51

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
As you see a lot of ways. i spread diatomaceous earth at the base of the tree. If they touch it, they have 9 hours at most to live. I use it mostly to combat the SWD fruit fly, comes in handy for the ants. I have a dust sprayer. I spray all around the figs. Works great for me. Disadvantages are that is stops working when wet, and so is not great for this time of year. You have one day because of morning dew. For ants that is all you need. SWD another story. Wear a mask when using, otherwise completely safe, even to eat. I use food grade, although I have no plans to eat any. Some people do!
Bait stations is another fairly low toxic method with borax, you can make your own with Borax soap. They work well too.
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Drew
Zone 5b/6a Sterling Heights MI
elin

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Its a battle especially with open eyes figs.
Organzas do the work ,all other stuff I tried failed.
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Eli ,Israel ,Zone 10? Too humid and hot, yada yada yada
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Growing: Sbayi, Hmadi, Black Portugal, Black Brazil,Excell, Flanders, Hmari , RDB, Niagra Black,Natalina, CDDN,Maya, Preto Torres, Preto Arge
nkesh099

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Tanglefoot for ants. Make sure to wrap the trunk before application.

Navid.
Chromester

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Thanks I will try al suggestions next year. All I have left are some figs that probley will not ripping before the first frost I don't see any warm weather in the near future.
drew51

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Quote:
Originally Posted by elin
Its a battle especially with open eyes figs. Organzas do the work ,all other stuff I tried failed.


Maybe it works, but I have 700 figs ripening. Maybe if i quit my job I would have time. OK, so I don't have 700 ripening, but you get the point. Also I heard of some saying they got through organza. Probably not put on right. Here the ants are those small ants, they can't get through?
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Drew
Zone 5b/6a Sterling Heights MI
jdsfrance

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Hi,
Use Lime brushed on the trunks and sprinkled around the trunks. You could add or use coffee grounds too.
Last year I ran out of used coffee grounds and used cheap powdered coffee from the bag ( powdered coffee that was not used/ was new ) .
It helps, doesn't get rid of all the ants, but at least is safe to use.
The only problem is rain then ...
My neighbor thinks that salt help with ants. You need to put the salt a bit away from the trees in the walkways for instance . Salt is a weed killer so be careful when using it.
But I use salt in the walkways (I use big grained salt). It is a good weed killer, a good slug and snail killer , and apparently works with ants too ... And if a child gets some ... well it is just salt .
I don't have sheep, goats nor cows .... Those might clean the salt :) .
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Climate from -25°C to + 35°C
Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here
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