Nematodes!!

[LONER]

Does anyone know how to get rid of nematodes??? I bought some plants at a flea market last year and I think they were what containated my soil....any way, I have them now! Any solutions.....anyone??
:evil:

[Navajo]

from wiki


Nematodes in agriculture
Depending on the species, a nematode may be beneficial or detrimental to plant health.
From an agricultural perspective, there are two categories of nematode: predatory ones, which will kill garden pests like cutworms (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutworm), and pest nematodes, like the root-knot nematode (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root-knot_nematode), which attack plants.
Predatory nematodes can be bred by soaking a specific recipe of leaves and other detritus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detritus) in water, in a dark, cool place, and can even be purchased as an organic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_movement) form of pest control (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pest_control).
Rotations of plants with nematode resistant species or varieties is one means of managing parasitic nematode infestations. For example, marigolds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marigold_(common)), grown over one or more seasons (the effective is cumulative), can be used to control nematodes.[11] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nematode#cite_note-Riotte-10) Another is treatment with natural antagonists such as the fungus gliocladium roseum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gliocladium_roseum). Chitosan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitosan), a natural biocontrol the elicits plant defense responses to destroy parasitic cyst nematodes on roots of sobyean, corn, sugar beets, potatoes and tomatoes without harming beneficial nematodes in the the soil.[12] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nematode#cite_note-11)

[Summerthyme]

I know marigolds (tagetes species) do work, but it's not enough to simply grow a few plants here and there.

You pretty well need to plant a solid patch of them to get much effect.

Out of curiosity, what problems are you having?

Summerthyme

[LONER]

Big Root knots and withering of my tomatos, eggplants and peppers. The plants just grow big, turn yellow, put out one or two veggies and then basically die. When I pulled up the plants, they had what looked like this:http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/publications/tomatoproblemsolver/root/images/root_knot.jpg
on them. The roots didn't even make deep roots like I have always had before, just a knotted up ball.....

[Summerthyme]

Yep... looks like it.

About all you can do is ROTATE your crops like crazy (because different species of nematodes affect different crops... rather obviously, you need to plant something other than nightshades in that area for now. If you have enough area to let the garden rest completely (plant your veggies in Earthboxes or another patch), do it... and broadcast marigold seeds in a solid patch in the affected ground. This is one place I'd highly recommend buying the cheapest seeds you can find... they'll probably grow, and it doesn't even matter if they bloom well, or are uniform plants, or anything else.

If possible (read the PDF file I'm going to link and you'll see why!) plant several different varieties. I know I've seen "Crackerjack" marigolds in the 10 cent seed packets, as well as several others.

You could also intercrop... plant your tomatoes and peppers, and then plant a ring of marigolds around them, just outside the root zone. Remember, you'll be "feeding" more than one crop, and make sure your nutrients are adequate.

Here's the link: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/PD-35.pdf

Summerthyme

[LONER]

Thank you very much Navajo & Summerthyme.....that article you linked to looks like it will be a LIFE SAVER....not only to my plants, but also for me one of theses days when I am totally depending on my garden for the majority of what I eat!
I have beaucoup packages of marigolds, as I always plant them through out the garden.....last year I raised almost all Roma tomatoes....my absolute FAVORITE, and the varities of those are not resistant to alot of things. This year, I will plant my night shade crops in cotainers :? and plant the garden SOLID with marigolds....my soil is too valuable to lose. I have spent years building it up. But last year was a MAJOR disappointment....having had a HUGE crop of tomatos the year before, it was hard not having hardly any....I can raise some other things until I get this under control....
Thanks again for your help!!

[Heartofdixie]

Try applying "Benificial Neematodes". 8)

I've used these 'beneficial nematodes" before, for the control of Corn Weavels and Crane Flies. The article says that these 'Beneficial Nematodes" will also control the "plant parasitic nematodes", particularly root-knot nematodes. They are effective against some plant parasitic nematodes, particularly root-knot nematodes. The Beneficial Neematodes come in an inert powder, that you mix with water and spray on your garden, lawn, or any other area that you are needing to treat. The first time we used it my husband was doubtful. He said he thought it was like the 'Sea Monkeys" that you used to see sold in the back of comic books. LOL! But, to his pleasant surprise, it worked wonderfully! 8)



Check out this link for more info. on "Benificial Nematodes". http://www.buglogical.com/beneficialNematodes_control_soilDwellingPests/beneficialNematodes.asp (http://www.buglogical.com/beneficialNematodes_control_soilDwellingPests/beneficialNematodes.asp)

At the above link, these are the type of Benificial Nematode that you would want: Steinernema Feltiae Nematodes (SF)

The only other way that I know of controlling or killing Nematodes is to "Solarize" your soil. The draw back is, that you take out of commision the area that you are treating for about 3 to 5 months. You take a large sheet of clear, heavy duty plastic, and place it over the the affected area. You have to stake or weigh down the area so that the plastic doesn't blow away. The heat build up will effectively steralize the soil. It also will kill all weed seeds and any and all bugs and their larve.

I think that the 'Beneficial Nematode" application is far easier. :mrgreen:

[LONER]

Thank you HofD.....
It's certainly worth a try! And considering the amount of money I would save on vegies, not that expensive!

[Crabapple Plum]

One of my older organic gardening books said to add sugar to the soil, I can't remember how much sugar and the book is misplaced right now. I had some potted plants that had nematodes and I gave each pot 2 teaspoons of sugar and it solved the problem.

Sugar is much cheaper, much easier to apply, works better and is more reasonable than using Vapam.

[LONER]

HMMMM! If you find that book let me know about how much to use!
I wonder if my garden would become a GIANT ANT BED though!
Seriously, if you find any more about that, let me know...OK?

[Crabapple Plum]

HMMMM! If you find that book let me know about how much to use!
I wonder if my garden would become a GIANT ANT BED though!
Seriously, if you find any more about that, let me know...OK?

I poked around the house for the book and it's not here. That means it's in one of the 30 boxes of books in a storage unit, I'll not be finding it soon.

The advantage of using sugar is that too much will not harm anything but nematodes. If you water it in well, it shouldn't draw ants.

[LONER]

Crabapple plum....I hadn't seen your answer before! Just reviewing things before I "gear up" to get the garden growing....Ok, thanks.

[pinecone]

I found the information on michigansugar.com. Look under the Uses for Sugar Outside the Kitchen section. It says to use 5 lbs sugar for 250ft of garden space. Shows a picture of knots on roots, too. I have no idea if it works, but I'm looking for something to get rid of symphylans in my garden and greenhouse. Something organic. Any ideas? I will try sugar even if they aren't the same critters.