A garden is only as good as the ground that it's planted in. Discussion forum for the many ways to improve the soil where we plant our gardens.
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January 2, 2017 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Bakersfield, CA (zone 8b / 9)
Posts: 38
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Till in marigolds for RKN?
I have read several places about the benefits of marigolds in fighting RKN (I have a bed that has a nasty infestation). What confuses me is what to do with the marigolds when it comes time. I have read conflicting info: 1 -- till the marigolds in with rest of cover crop (mustard blend in my case), 2 -- pull the plants and discard because the nematodes (at least some, I guess) are still alive in the marigolds. Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.
W. LeClair |
January 2, 2017 | #2 |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
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What I've read is to till them in. I grow Dwarf French Marigolds. I also read that some types of marigolds don't work.
I should mention, I'm in the same boat - the RKN is a microscopic beast. |
January 2, 2017 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Bakersfield, CA (zone 8b / 9)
Posts: 38
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I agree...they are the bane of my gardening existence (that and gophers on my fruit trees). I'm also solarizing the bed this summer when the major heat comes in. I'm hoping that with the mustard, marigolds, and solarizing I can at least grow something in there next year -- even beans.
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January 2, 2017 | #4 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10
Posts: 9,283
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Quote:
Try using the plastic bags with your pots set on top, and new fresh potting mix in the pot. Cheap, easy, no more RKN threat. |
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January 3, 2017 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Bakersfield, CA (zone 8b / 9)
Posts: 38
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Thanks for the input, Ginger. Question for you, from what I have read (including in Craig's book) the containers should be emptied and filled with new potting soil every year...sounds like a pretty big expense (not to mention work) every year. I have built in the last three years 5 raised beds (with another coming next month) for almost 200 sf of growing space...and quite a bit of money into it. Only one of them (of course the biggest one) is infested...and interestingly, but not surprisingly, it's the one I filled with bulk soil from a local landscaping place. I am wondering, if my current efforts don't pay off if I should just shovel out the soil, "decontaminate", and then fill with bagged soil I know is safe. What do you think?
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January 3, 2017 | #6 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10
Posts: 9,283
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Quote:
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May 18, 2017 | #7 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Frisco Texas
Posts: 390
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Quote:
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January 3, 2017 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: albuquerque
Posts: 308
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When you said "just shovel out the soil" I started wondering how long can RKN and eggs survive without root to feed on ? Found this page with more than you ever wanted to know.
http://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/intro...tNematode.aspx |
January 3, 2017 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Bakersfield, CA (zone 8b / 9)
Posts: 38
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Thanks, 4season. After reading the article (yeah, more than one ever wants to know) I think I may try planting earlier (since our frost is pretty much non-existent), pulling the plants when the major heat comes in (since production pretty much stops anyway), and keep it fallow after I solarize until the cooler temps in late October. I'm planning beans for this bed this summer...does anyone know if they are susceptible? A cursory search indicated they are. I've never planted a large crop of beans in this bed -- this year will be telling.
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January 3, 2017 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Bakersfield, CA (zone 8b / 9)
Posts: 38
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Would a bleach spray (on the bed lumber, not the soil) kill any remaining eggs, do you think, if I do shovel it out?
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June 21, 2017 | #11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: south carolina
Posts: 175
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That is a lot of information!!
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January 3, 2017 | #12 |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
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Thank you Marsha. I didn't realize you could use the same soil/mix in containers from year-to-year. That changes how I was thinking about container growing. Now it's a realistic option for me.
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January 4, 2017 | #13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Bakersfield, CA (zone 8b / 9)
Posts: 38
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I agree...thank you so much for the information.
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January 4, 2017 | #14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: albuquerque
Posts: 308
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in the general discussion area there are 2 threads 1 on November 1, and one on July 15 both started by ALittleSalt. Multiple pages each.
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January 4, 2017 | #15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Santa Maria California
Posts: 1,014
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Hope this is right place for this. Someone brought up electric tillers and I can't find the thread . Like to buy one if they're viable option for my needs. Thanks jimbo
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