Hi all,

For the first time in several years, I have a couple of ripe figs and it looks like others are coming along just fine from the same tree.

I picked the first fig (attached) and was walking away with it to show my wife, when I flipped it over, and saw about a dozen tiny little ants coming out of the hole. I guest they were having a feast.

I had another fig ALMOST ready to pick, but I did not want to wait another day in case the ants were preparing for their next meal. So I picked it. It was half sweet, but I enjoyed it anyway.

My question to you all is, what  can I sprinkle around the base, or spray on there to keep the ants off any future ripe figs?

Also, is this purple fig called a Brown Turkey? I made this one from a branch off of my big bush tree a couple of years ago. My big tree never seemed to ripen anymore after a few harsh Winters. But this one did after a couple of years.

I am in ZONE 6B in Pennsylvania.

Thanks,
Joe

Ants
borex and sugar on non absorbent holder as bottle cap or coated cardboard on the ground near the tree. can get same at h depot as terado ant .  borax at most grocery stores.  Takes several days to do them in.  may also attract dogs if one is around, place flower pot over borax.

bill e  Md.

Thanks Bill,

After I posted my question, I did a search and saw Borax was a popular deterrent/killer.

So borax and sugar will be mixed together, and placed in a small bottlecap like a milk gallon jug, Then place it at the base.

I'll give it a try. I will also look into Terado Ant like you had suggested.

Thanks

Diatomaceous Earth works well to keep a lot of pests away. Do a little searching about it.

Thanks for that advice as well. I will read up on it too. I didn't get a chance to get the Borax or anything else yesterday, yet...

But this morning I went and picked a ripe fig that had about 4 tiny ants on it going into the hole. From what I heard from several other posters, it's not so bad if they had not devoured it yet. So I cut out the hole part, and washed it good. Sliced it in half and no bugs inside. It was delicious and sweet. 

It was ok to eat, right?

I have to buy or make an ant killer or I will have to be on top of these figs every day.

Thanks

JoeR, congratulations on bringing figs to fruition. Ants can be prevented from attacking the fruit by various methods, many of them toxic.  IF you have fig trees with single or few trunks, rather than multiple trunk bushes, try putting some Tangle Foot on them.

It is a sticky, resinous, water resistant stuff, sort of like sap.  Put it around the trunk, and the ants which deploy form an underground burrow mostly will encounter it and usually won't cross it. It is non-toxic, just annoying to them and other insects which don't like the sticky stuff. You have to recheck it frequently, it may "crust over" with time/exposure, and it will be rubbed off by silly dogs, your knees, etc.  However, when "fresh" from the tube it works well in my experience.  Let us know if you try it and if it works. Commonly sold at green house supplies, nurseries, garden departments, in a tooth paste like tube.

I tried the borax/honey method, I did not see much decrease in the ant population but maybe over time...
good luck, Vic
Zone 8B
Chicago Hardy, Excel and lots of plans for next year

Vic - I went to Home Depot to get the Tangle Foot, but that had to be ordered online.

I saw that they also had Diatomaceous Earth that CARBONFX suggested so I picked that up. I wanted to put something down tonight.

CARBONFX- There are a few ways to apply this. Mix with water to make it like paste and put it around the trunk, or sprinkle around the base of the tree. I sprinkled around it the base on top of the mulch. How did you do yours? Should I mix up the mulch with it, or leave it on top as is?

Thanks

I would use it like the following image:
http://gardeninginadrought.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/diatomaceous-earth-ants-vegetable.jpg
not putting too close to the tree, not that it would harm it but around the problem area for the ants. The entire neighborhood where i live has ant problems, i found a group of winged ants with workers swarming in my Satsuma tree this morning.. i didnt have time to put down ant bait or diatom so i went right to the can of  clorinated brakleen, always gets the job done. and not spraying the tree or roots, just hitting them in the surrounding area.
Best of luck trying to combat them. im going to use the borax method next.

As of today I have 1 fig that is about 1 day away from getting picked. I sprinkled the Earth stuff around the base last night. I will check tonight and tomorrow to see if the fig has been raided or not.

I did like that TANGLE FOOT stuff though. If this Diatomaceous Earth does not work, I think I will order the tangle foot online.

I'll keep you posted, and good luck to you as well in keeping the bugs off your tree.

Hi,
Don't use toxic products (tangle foot ...) on an edible crop that you're about to eat.
I use coffee grounds (used coffee ) and lime around the base of the tree and that helps a lot while not totally effective, I must admit.
I'm noticing that I don't have ant problems on three trees that have lavender growing next to them.
I'll try to plant a lavender-plant next to the tree, that I still have problems with. See if that makes a difference.
Lavender is easy to propagate through cuttings too ( no additional cost after buying the first plant).

I find ant populations are localized.  
Any figs I put in certain locations will get visited by ants other locations no ants.
If container tree maybe you can move it to where  there are no ants?

Ants are good indicator that your fig is getting ripe.  
Using organza bags tightly applied will keep ants of the figs.  

Dear jdsfrance, and others, 
Tree TangleFoot I am told is not toxic...and it is indicated not toxic on the labeling. Do you know otherwise?  I am concerned, as I try to grow organically and TangleFoot is approved for organic labeled products I am told.  TangleFoot is an irritant to the fastidious insects that do not want that sticky stuff gumming up their joints, it is not ingested  nor is it toxic I am told by the company, it works mechanically, not systemically.

 Also, I am pretty sure I know what you mean about not applying toxic products to edible crops, but TangleFoot is normally applied as a small band around the trunk of the plant, not on the fruit. It makes a barrier to prevent the ants or other insects from passing over or through it, it does them no harm unless they actually get caught in it, which their avoidance behavior usually prevents.  IF it is toxic in fact, please inform us, I don't want to mislead anyone, I am thinking it is non-toxic and a great alternative to toxic solutions which I do not support if alternatives exist.  

Vic
Zone 8B
Chicago Hardy, Excel and big plans for the future

https://faa81132b7.site.internapcdn.net/CFLs/treetanglefoot_insectbarrier.pdf

This from the TangleFoot website, 

If this link works, see it is labeled for organic use. I guess one could say castor oil may in fact be toxic, but is not dangerous in this application if you follow the directions, use the tree collars, and do not ingest the stuff in quantity. Remember, it is a gummy material applied on a paper collar on the trunk of tree, and does not contact the fruit or leaves of the tree.  

Vic
Zone 8B
Chicago Hardy, Excel and big plans for the future.

I read somewhere that chili powder also helps, sprinkle around the trunk on soil. Rain wouls wash it away so repeat application is probably required.

Hi,

Here is an update after my first fig was overtaken by ants over a week ago...

I ended up buying the "Garden Safe" Diatomaceous Earth and sprinkled it around the ground by the tree trunk. Since then, I've picked about 7 more ripe figs and no ants.

I would say that this powdery thing is working. I have had to reapply it after a couple of rainstorms too, just in case.

I also applied it to two other trees that I have in the  ground.

Thanks
   

That is great you are seeing tangible results with this non-toxic remedy.  Not sure, but someone told me you can buy Diatomaceous earth in quantity  at Swimming Pool supply stores, and perhaps save a lot of $.  With your favorable report, I may try DE if/when my figs get plagued with ants.  Good luck and thanks for the report.

Vic
Hardy Chicago, Excel and big plans for the future
Zone 8B
Hereford, Arizona 
USA

Hi again,

Just another final update on Diatomaceous Earth.

I was away on vacation for a week and came home to about 15-20 juicy looking figs. A lot were VERY ripe for picking, and I am happy to say that not 1 ant was visible.

This stuff is working well.

Thanks carbonfx

Differences Between Fuller's Earth & Diatomaceous Earth
By Alicia Prince; Updated April 24, 2017
Fuller's earth and diatomaceous earth are similar in appearance, though their uses and means of production vary greatly. Fuller's earth is an effective oil absorbent in several settings, but can also be an ingredient for cosmetic products. Diatomaceous Earth on the other hand, is an effective natural pesticide, but is also used in pool filtration systems.



FULLER'S EARTH
Fuller's earth is a naturally occurring mineral that was originally used to clean oils off of sheep wool, but is now used in several settings. This clay-like compound is usually comprised of about 70 percent silica, 14 percent sapphire crystal, 5 percent magnesium oxide, 5 percent iron oxide and 1 percent calcium oxide. Fuller's earth physically resembles diatomaceous earth, as they are both off-white powders.

DIATOMACEOUS EARTH
Unlike Fuller's earth, diatomaceous earth is comprised of the skeletal remains of ancient microscopic plant organisms. The remains of these algae-like plants are believed to have built up into deep deposits around 30 million years ago. These remains are mined, then ground up to create diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth is typically a mixture of approximately 3 percent magnesium, 33 percent silicon, 19 percent calcium, 5 percent sodium and 2 percent iron. Other trace minerals may exist in diatomaceous earth mixtures, including titanium, boron, manganese and copper.

FULLER'S EARTH USES
Fuller's earth is used in several different cosmetic applications, as well as acting as an oil absorbent in industrial settings. This mineral is an effective skin lightening ingredient, used both to minimize sun spots and to lighten tattoos. In cosmetic products, Fuller's earth is often mixed with other minerals and small amounts of bentonite, depending on the needed consistency and performance. For industrial use, Fuller's earth is an effective absorbent of oil spills or other spills, though Fuller's earth is not mixed with other compounds when used for absorbent purposes.

DIATOMACEOUS EARTH USES
Diatomaceous earth is generally used in two major applications. First, this mineral is an effective natural pesticide that controls a wide variety of insects. Safe for indoor and outdoor applications, diatomaceous earth can be used on plants, carpets, bedding, pet areas and around cracks and crevices to control carpet beetles, bedbugs, fleas, flies, cockroaches, slugs, snails and many other small insects and pests. Though diatomaceous earth is not harmful to warm-blooded animals, breathing the dust of the mineral should be avoided. Special mixtures of diatomaceous earth can also be used in pool filters, though this mix will not work as a pesticide.

Thanks for the extra bit of info, Mike.

I've read that you can get small, reusable organza bags with a drawstring, and fasten them individually to each fig....