It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:00 pm

All times are UTC - 6 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:43 pm 
Offline

Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:34 pm
Posts: 3
Nadine,

I had a huge red ant colony in my compost pile so I sprayed them with ant poison. I wish I wouldnt have done this. Do you think I can ever use this compost in my vegetable garden now?


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:22 pm 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 9:10 am
Posts: 1278
Location: Dallas,TEXAS
Well, I would not use it on food crops ever. I do not know what you used, but you can try and make it better by putting dry molasses on it. How much poison did you use? Put at least twice the amount of dry molasses. Do you have a thermometer in it? Make sure it gets real hot. I am no expert, so I cannot tell you what temperature, but personally, I would aim for over 140 farenheit.

Organic matter can sometimes negate the presence of chemicals. I hope this is the case with yours.

Next time you see ants, add moisture to the pile, not chemicals. You know you did wrong, and that is a start. Bless you for that. I pray you will never do this again. All is not lost, but please do not use it on your veggies. after treating it with molasses and feeding more organic matter into it, try and keep it even more moist than a wrung out sponge. just a little more, so that the larvae of black soldier flies appear. Some cal them maggots, I call them mealworms. Birds love them! this might just be an indicator of "all is well". Please keep in mind that I am NOT an expert. I hope that this helps you.

_________________
Nadine Bielling
Moderator
Gardener Exchange Forum

The Laws of Ecology:
"All things are interconnected. Everything goes somewhere. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Nature bats last." --Ernest Callenbach


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 6:33 pm 
Offline

Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:34 pm
Posts: 3
Now I have heard that ant colonies can be beneficial to a compost pile. Would you agree?


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:03 pm 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 9:10 am
Posts: 1278
Location: Dallas,TEXAS
Well, they are not going to hurt it. However, if your compost pile is hot and biologidcally active as it should be, ants will not be present.

_________________
Nadine Bielling
Moderator
Gardener Exchange Forum

The Laws of Ecology:
"All things are interconnected. Everything goes somewhere. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Nature bats last." --Ernest Callenbach


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:17 pm 
Offline

Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:34 pm
Posts: 3
Nadine, Did you get the e-mail that I sent you?


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 9:19 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2010 8:43 pm
Posts: 3
No, do not use it for any edible crops. EVER. I once had fire ants in my compost pile. I mixed in a healthy amount of dry molasses into the pile and the ants were gone the next day, leaving only the happy earthworms.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 6 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by eWeblife