Fungus gnats are swarming around the containers because of too moist conditions, or a potting medium that is too mucky (peaty) and holds on to water longer than it should. The gnats lay their eggs in the potting medium and the larvae, if populations are high enough, can do damage to plants by nibbling on roots. Are they fire ants in the containers, or another species? If so, you can bait with Amdro outside of the containers (not inside). There are also ant BAIT products on the market containing the active ingredient Spinosad. It's considered safe to use with food crops. Purchase some ordinary mosquito dunks. Break one into small pieces and put part of the dunk into a watering can (or two) for several hours. Then, water your plants as usual. Each time you have to water those containers for the next few days, use the mosquito dunk water. Active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis Israelensis, a naturally occuring biological control for certain members of the gnat and mosquito families. Mosquito dunks are manufactured for use as a larvacide for mosquitoes. You can also purchase something called Gnatrol, which is made to be mixed with water to water the soil. Next year, find a recipe to make great, coarse textured potting soil that cannot support fungus gnat larvae. You and your plants will be much happier.

Be sure that the label of your pesticide says that you can use it in vegetable gardens. Some, you may NOT, for safety reasons. There are, however, organic ant baits that can be used around edibles. Fire ants, by the way, can cause some problems in the garden. Not only will they feed on fruits and veggies, but if they decide to excavate large colonies around the root system, the plants can desiccate.

Tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants are members of the Nightshade family; a family of plants that contains many well known poisonous members. These plants have varying levels of alkaloids that have steroidal properties. Though the fruit is now known to be safe, poisoning can occur from the ingestion of the leaves, vines, or unripe fruit. There have been reports of livestock being poisoned by crossing fences to forage through a tomato patch and even by farmers adding the suckers culled from their tomato vines to the livestock feed. Nightshade poisoning can be difficult to detect because the symptoms can be mistaken for a variety of ailments. Those symptoms are: lethargy, vomiting, difficult breathing, prostration, and constipation or diarrhea. Since these symptoms do not easily point to alkaloid poisoning it is best to take preventative measures to ensure the safety of your herd. From Plants Poisonous to Livestock U of Minn. Extension No more green tomatoes for the cows. ;) Dave

Not a problem in any way. Just don't eat the oleander.