My ants and aphids are at it again :-(

This time the ants build little soil castles around the bottom of my fennel
plant - and attach the aphids' teeth to the stem when they are
appropriately shaded - and then dance gleefully around them.

I'm not sure why they bother will the protection - the aphids seem
to do just fine when they are exposed on the tops of my broad beans.

Maybe these fennel-juice suckers are a different breed which happen
to like the shade ;-)

Currently I regularly knock the soil around the stem off with a stick.

Does anyone know if my 1M high bronze fennel is likely to be seriously
thretened by the aphid attack on its stem?

Any advice about my counter-measure options would also be welcomed.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.
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"Tim Tyler" wrote in message ...
My ants and aphids are at it again :-(
Does anyone know if my 1M high bronze fennel is likely to be seriously
thretened by the aphid attack on its stem?

Any advice about my counter-measure options would also be welcomed.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.
Yep the little things will suck it dry. Spray the plants with a aphid
killing soap mixture, buy from garden supply shop. Mix pecans or sugar with
boric acid to kill the ants, one ounce ground nut or sugar to one teaspoon
boric acid. Get boric acid from drug store or are they still called "the
chemists"?