Red ants
roxy2
Posts: 23
Hi, I have a new allotment and there are 2 black refuse bins full of what appears to be earth. I was thinking they might make great containers for carrots but they are full of red ants. If I poke about, add water for the seeds and disturb them will they move on? I would prefer just to leave them alone but will they move the carrot seeds around or eat them? any advice will be useful please. I have no desire to kill them, they are doing no harm. Many thanks.
0
Posts
Red ants are the ones that sting, if you try growing stuff in there I think it is inevitable you will get stung.They are particularly adapt at getting under cuffs on your arms or under trousers on your legs. Doubt if they would touch your seeds as I believe they are mainly carnivorous, so they might eliminate some pests for you, or they could spread aphids about.
I'd tip them out, wait for them to disperse and the birds will eat any eggs. Then put the soil back.
In the sticks near Peterborough
I agree with Nut - the birds will deal with them and any other inhabitants of the bins if you tip the soil out, spread it out and leave it for a few days
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Good idea about tipping them out I never thought of that! (getting old) I have been stung in the past by these and generally give them wide berth but the bins are too good to resist for planting into - many thanks for the help.