I live in Central Texas and I have been using diatomaceous earth in my garden for several years now, especially when I plant my potato sets. For years, I would have a fire ant mound with almost every potato plant at harvest time and the potatoes themselves would be covered with fire ant bites. Now, I put DE in every hole at planting time, put the potatoes in and then put a dusting of DE on top of the potatoes before I cover them with dirt. The fire ant problem is now gone and no more fire ant bites on the potatoes!!! I even use DE when I plant my squash and some other things to keep bugs away from the roots.
I live in Central Texas and I have been using diatomaceous earth in my garden for several years now, especially when I plant my potato sets. For years, I would have a fire ant mound with almost every potato plant at harvest time and the potatoes themselves would be covered with fire ant bites. Now, I put DE in every hole at planting time, put the potatoes in and then put a dusting of DE on top of the potatoes before I cover them with dirt. The fire ant problem is now gone and no more fire ant bites on the potatoes!!! I even use DE when I plant my squash and some other things to keep bugs away from the roots.