Haven't learnt much since last communique. Did learn one thing, though -- all the organic remedies in the world (and I've used, to date, 23 different ones) do NOT deter the determined leaf-cutter ant.
The only way that works (on empirical evidence) is a neurotoxin, typically an organophosphate. The crop: sweet peppers, aka pimentones here in Panama. After having EVERY plant in a 30-plant plot denuded of leaves between 60 and 95 percent (the little bastids leave JUST enough leafstock so the plant doesn't die), I treated the ground immediately around half the plants with a local product called Hormitox (hormiga is the word for 'ant' in Spanish).
To date -- and this was approx 3 weeks ago -- all plants so treated are developing new leaves by the bushel. No flowers yet, but I imagine that the plants must recover from stress before flowering (no seasons here, remember, except 'wet' and 'dry'). As to the others, I've kept treating them with regular doses of spice and garlic tea, and packing their stems w/coffee grounds. No improvement.
This is fairly definitive evidence, where I come from (oh, that's right...Missouri).
As ol' MJ said: you can't always get what you want. In this case purely organic ant repellent. But, sometimes, you just might find...you get what you need. In this case, ant-free pimentones.
After 6 weeks of growing dill seedlings in plastic cups, I've started transplanting them into the garden. Some are quite impressive, 10-12 inches high. Theoretically, it's a little early, still the rainy season (and, it has stormed for the past 3 days in the afternoon). Middle of November is theoretically better to transplant, BUT, good news, the four already transplanted are evidently too big to be crushed by the rain (yay!).
Happy gardening, young lady!
Tis so sad, but true. Sometimes the organic ways just don’t cut the mustard! Then ya gotta make a choice - do without or go with the stronger stuff.
I have to do that periodically with my lemon tree. I wait untill I have harvested all the fruit, and spray it with pyola a couple of times really good. Then I kinda pick off the flowers after they bloom for a while. Once the foilage is looking healthy again, I’ll let the flowers set fruit.
So far I can get at least a year and a half between doses.
I look forward to hearing more from you, as your climate is so different from here. Happy gardening to you too.