Gardening

What is going on with my artichokes?!?  They are covered in ants and covered in 💩.  Are these plants beyond saving?

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Yeah it's unfortunate...They're back!  Have washed them off a few times.

@arfonzo.eth  is right, aphids are a bugger but the ants will be milking them and protecting them from the predators. If you can stop the ants getting up on the plant that will help too. Probably no help on artichoke but I use tree grease to stop them on my apples for this precise reason. I feel your pain, they're terrible this year😔

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No worries, thank you! 🙏 

I'd personally say aphids are far more destructive than ants--though ants will sometimes place aphids on your plants! It's called farming aphids. They do this because aphids will excrete a sugary substance that ants then farm back to the colony.

I would spray the plants now, to deter aphids returning!

Washed them all off, will use some Neem oil if they come back!  I'm dealing with ants in 2 other areas, assumed that was the case here. First time dealing with aphids so ty for the clarification. 

50 $degen

@laru is absolutely correct--these are aphids, not ants! They are mf'ers. They'll suck the sap from the plants, esp the younger tender shoots.

Soapy water spray will get rid of them with repeated applications. I use washing up liquid detergent + water in spray bottle.

Good luck--keep us posted!

20 $DEGEN