no, but wash them first before eating

Someone in WI might be unaware of the issues CA and FL have with the extremely invasive Argentine ant. If this is the species you have crawling around your garden, it won't directly hurt your crops, but it is most likely feeding off a honeydew excreting pest, which certainly can hurt yields, and it can help spread and protect aphids. Just check to make sure you aren't missing aphids, scale, whitefly or some other pest the ant is feeding off of, which can all be controlled with insecticidal soap.

Here is a link that might be useful: Argentine ant

I think the WI temps have frozen DF's brain and not even summer temps will thaw it.
That said the Argentine ant is not the only ant that farms these pests. I doubt ants of any kind are bothering with a hanging plant for the soil or a home but anything's possible.

Agree with Taz. Ground infestations of ants around plants don't pose any problems IME. But they don't normally go out of their way to bother suspended plants.

Something there is attracting them. It could easily be aphids or scale or it may just be moisture - assuming you aren't watering them with sugared water.

Did you fill the planter with soil-less potting mix as required or use dirt? If you used garden soil/dirt that could easily be where they originated.

Are there hummingbird feeders hanging nearby the plant? They will go after those so if there are I'd suggest moving them.

Dave

PS: apologies for the rude drivel post above. His posts seldom contribute anything helpful.

I cannot give any further advice that has not already been given. I recently dug a trench on Feb.14th or so,of this year, and planted shad bait (leftover from last year) squished under and around the base of my plants.

The related story to the ants. A few day later, I noticed an abundant line of ants running straight to this trench. I always see and notice ants in the field,especially come okra time.

My first thought was oh-no. Now,come March 1 save 2 hours, these plants are okay. These were Carbon and Cherokee Purple seedlings from Baker Creek. They were all roughly all 2" tall with their first set of true leaves with the start of their second set of truth.

I apologize for the sidetrack.

The shad are gone.