Topic: Giant Pumpkin 2cms Away From a Wasps Nest

[Trixiebelle]

Harvest advice please!

My Atlantic Giant, prize-winning (against Ahmed next door's) pumpkin is sitting in the compost heap. It is a nit's spit away from a wasp's nest.

Every time I go near it to 'croon' over my baby and water it, a million wasps zip out of the compost heap and follow me, quite aggressively. Right round the garden and sometimes to the local Co-Op.

They're threatening to take away my loyalty card (the people in the Co-Op, not the wasps)

What can I do?

[silverbirch]

a) Go up there at night once it is chilly with a torch, and a tube of wasp killer.

b) Change supermarkets if they don't provide facilities for your pets.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Paraffin, white spirit, petrol, anything similar, or wasps nest killer will get them. No need to wait for nightfall unless you're seriously nervous.

[greenscrump]

they'll all die soon anyway, except the queen. She'll stay in the nest till spring then head off to start a new colony.  Wasps tend not to nest in the same place again.  We had a nest in our loft last year and now zilch.  Besides, they've probably been eating your greenfly. Also, they are least active early am and late pm and when it's cooler or rainier.

[Eristic]

Look at it this way: You are not likely to have it stolen. ;D

[star]

 ;D ;D ;D the best form of security, I do like the way you think eristic ;D ;D ;D

[Lauren S]

We had a paper wasp nest above our burglar alarm one year. We decided to leave them alone after trying to remove it with no luck. They soon left when they were ready  ::)

Lauren

[cambourne7]

I am with the whole leaving it till they die camp, why not get ice cubed and lob them in the direction of your pumpkin???

[Kea]

Brilliant suggestion Cambourne....the picture that conjures up! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[cambourne7]

you know me Kea, i usualy have the off the wall ideas.

Notice was not suggesting freezing chicken pool liquid :) which was my first though  :P

[Trixiebelle]

Thanks guys  ;D I really don't like killing things (even if they are nasty little critters!)

When will they decide to 'go away' though? In time for Halloween??

[artichoke]

Don't do as my German son-in-law did: poured kettle of boiling water into nest while I was peacefully reading in the sun a few yards away. Furious wasps shot out in a rage stinging everything they banged into, including me.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Don't ever annoy wasps or bees with anything that doesn't immediately knock them all down! Most of the so-called 'killer bee' incidents in the States are down to the bees having been sprayed with something unsuitable, and driven wild.

[Trixiebelle]

Maybe I'll just hire a crane  ;D

[cambourne7]

personaly i would leave the wasps there as they are free security for your pumpkin.