Ant attack
I have discovered the source of one plant doing poorly, was potted up in the greenhouse (gravel floor) waiting for me to decide where to plant it. Don't want all my eggs in one basket now do I?.

Stupid buggery red ants had built a nest in the base of the pot, poor weee thing has been growing poorly for weeks.

Now planted out in the veg plot I just hope it recovers . . . Anybody else had ant problems?

well i gt a plant out doors nxt 2 wot i think must b an ants nest coz red ants r everywhere and im finding loads of holes in her bt im nt sure if its the red ants! does nebody no how 2 kill dem?

second that how do u kill wivout damage?

got red ants all over my grow.

not gonna bother gettin rid of em, dont seem to be doing any harm, and they are carnivours, so should jeep insects, and if im real lucky slugs away

Red ants almost impossible to get rid of as they live in smaller multiple colonies rather than one big one like black ants.

I too have had this problem and the solution i came up with was this:

Firstly, your going to have to re-pot.
Take the plant out of the pot and remove the ants, brush them off, use gloves if you want. (I had black ant infestation so i wasn't bothered by the bites, but they don't have feel weird when a swarm crawls around you arms.
Remove the little eggs, they look like maggots/rice and kill the queen (should look big and white with wings, i think their white because they don't surface). Fill up the holes and re-pot when you think you have successfully removed it.

Do take care with the roots, and expect to see a little shock, but your green darlings should bounce back. Maybe a lil course of nitrozyme if you're worried about damage. Trying to remember what other solution i have (sound like 'Rhino') stinks of dead fish, but it's good for shocked roots.

For poisons i reccomend the following:

Ant Stop - Deltamethrine based poison (i haven't notice any damage to my crops). Read instructions carefully.

Tobacco - Get some rolling tobacco (any brand will do), take a handful and put into a container, add warm water, cover and leave it to soak over night. The next day, remove the tobacco and pour the liquid over the nest. This should give the ants a nicotine over-dose. Though i didn't find this extremely effective, you may need some proper harsh tobacco!!
Wear gloves as nicotine is quite absorbant, i felt a bit quesy after handling it.

Bait stations are quite good, they have gel and i believe they attract the ants with smell. They feed on the gel taking it back to the nest and then slowly killing the rest. I believe more than one station would be needed, pending on size of the nest.

I also read that growing mint is effective, i think this is bollox as i have mint growing in my greenhouse (from previouse owner am always weeding out), and they attract spider-mites (don't get me ranting about them )

In some ways i wish i had never used ant-stop (although effective) i am concerned about it not being organic. I have since switched to using Neem Oil. I found it a nightmare to get hold of. Even going to beauty shops to try and buy it. I found some stocked at a local horse/equestrain shop if that helps.

there is traps on the market that feed the workerAnts a chemical that will make the female sterile so the colonies will die.
and the best thing is no chems used on plants, and the ants will do all the work.
we had ant problems at work a few well placed traps did the trick, 3weeks after ants were a rare sight. and after a month they were all gone

Loads of ground cinnamon spread around your plants will keep them away apparently.

He has already planted it out but the stuff is called Nippon available in DIY shops and very good.

If you want to get rid of ants without the use of poisons etc. Try Ant nematodes, you can buy them HERE

If you do use this method please boil the tobacco water for 3-4min's to kill off the tobacco mosaic virus