Basil and ants

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kitty_mom Waverly, GA(Zone 8b) Dec 19, 2008

Hi there,
Last year I grew Genovese Basil and loved it! In the beginning I had some problems with ants, but they recovered pretty well. Then I had to move (grrrrr) and I took the basil with me in pots. Where I live now, we're pretty much plagued with ants in the hot weather (wouldn't that have been nice to know?) and the ants just about destroyed my basil.
Of course, this year coming up I'd love to grow more basil, but I would like to know if there's a variety that is resistant or if I'll just have to do without.
Thanks!

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dp72 Woodway, TX(Zone 8a) Dec 20, 2008

What if you grew it in pots and put a half-brick or something in a pan of water and set the pot on the bricks and kept water in the pan? I don't see how the ants could get to the plant. And it wouldn't be standing in water because the bricks would raise it up enough to be out of the water.

There are stories that fire ants will navigate water. Most ants won't enter water.

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Dec 20, 2008

Are you sure it was the ants destroying the basil? Anytime I find ants crawling all over my plants it's because they're farming aphids or scale which are the real culprits doing damage to the plant.

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Dec 20, 2008

i agree with ecrane. ants on their own don't destroy plants, except fireants and even then, they do root damage, not to the top of the plant.

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rhodiegirl Deering, NH(Zone 5a) Dec 29, 2008

I got to agree with the last two comments. Basically all ants do is remove lose particles and other bugs off plants and stuff. I get them all the time on my peony bushes. The only place I don't want them is in my house. Certain insects can be good for your plants.

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