I planted cabbage, collards, broccoli, potatoes, kale, chard, etc. I have a problem year round with leaf cutter ants, so this is what the plants look like:



So, I put out grits about 2 weeks ago, and now the ants are slow moving and sick


And, my plants are starting to get leaves back

Wow, tk I'd be keeping those grits handy, and put some around the new plants whenever you plant anything. Glad we don't have those ants here, (although we have nearly every other kind )

Sounds like a good argument not to eat grits...

Just kidding -- I've heard that would work for ants but have never tried it; thanks for the photographic evidence, TK !

Do you have leaf cutter ants, sandy?

texaskitty111 said:Do you have leaf cutter ants, sandy?

No... or at least not that I know of -- is the "grits treatment" specific to the one type of ants?

SCButtercup said:This is unconfirmed but I read on the companion gardening forum that if you grow winter squash next to melons they get bitter tasting. Could there have been melons growing next to the pumpkin?

I've grown squash next to melons for years, and have never had a problem with any bitterness. My first thought was the same as Sandy's perhaps harvested a bit too unripe.

Yes, sandy because every other ant can be poisoned - these ants only eat the fungus they grow on the leaves. Maybe the grits make a poison like ricon? It does take a while to work.

TK -- very interesting, and just one more thing that I've learned here on ATP !

Okay. I guess I get to be the first. Merry Christmas to all the gardeners here and may your vegetables be huge, flavorful and abundant next year.

Merry Christmas everyone! Wishing all of you bountiful gardens with no weeds, pests, or weather related woes, etc. for 2016.

Merry Christmas to all of you, and happy holidays coming up, too!

Merry Christmas to everyone... my favorite present this year is the weather, we have 34F right now, sunshine, no snow and the ground isn't even frozen yet! Makes me want to go out and plant something . Unfortunately, a lot of people around the country are not enjoying good weather -- very sad that so many were affected by the recent tornadoes and even more are now dealing with flooding. I hope 2016 will bring us all more joy than sadness

Merry Christmas to all, and best wishes for a happy, healthy 2016.

We are having a lovely, sunny day (50F right now), but expecting lots of rain the next few days.

This is a very good "look" for my garden and yard at this time of year !


plants overwintering in the hoophouse; most have not gone dormant yet


Onion plants that are under a "low tunnel"

Good morning and Merry Christmas ! I just found this thread. We have broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, onions and greens for the winter garden.They all may rot after getting over 6 inches of rain in less than 24 hours. I think I'll go plan the spring garden

That's a good-looking garden, Susie -- hope the rain doesn't cause too much of a problem for it! (It's hard for me to imagine 6 inches in 24 hours; we had about 3 inches not long ago and I thought we were all going to float out to L. Michigan)

Susie, your garden looks great. Mine is under several inches of snow and I am not likely to see it for months! Meanwhile, I am looking at my seed catalog, marking my choices.... dreaming of spring!

Sandy, your garden is all ready to plant come spring. Susie, it must be nice to have a couple of garden seasons in a year.

Has anyone heard from Dr. Ken? They had some nasty storms down his way. Just wondering if they were in his area.

Tom - I just spotted his posts on two other threads. He's fine.