I'm doomed... RKN

[Tonio]

Well darn!! Me beds got RKN

Planted out in early april, and I've pulled all the tom's already
Evidence of knot /galls in the lower roots.

1st month they grew like gangbusters to 4' , but had some hail and cold dreary overcast/rain about a months worth off and on. May is usually gray, and June is gloomy. Being near the coast doesn't help much with the marine effects.

This is only my 2nd year in this rental space so only have room for 5 plants:
Big rainbow, JP Black trifelle, Black krim, San Marzano Redorta. I'd post some pics, but photobucket is in maintenance . I'll check in the morning.

Anyways, I've read Carolyn's paper and researched alittle. I cam e across a cover crop sunn hemp that appears to be a good candidate along with actinovate .
http://www.covercropsolutions.com/pr...on-legumes.php
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/PD-32.pdf

My toms did get effected w/ powdery mildew, and possibly early blight and/or TRM.

Am I doomed ????

[Sun City Linda]

I know there are varietys that are resistant to nemotodes. You might check some of the large tomato seed suppliers like Tomato Growers Supply and or Totally Tomatoes.

[Tonio]

Here's some pics for the record. The lower roots seems effect more.
So the typical amending with alot of organic matter does seem to be preventative. I started out with 10" or so of pure sand, and progressively adding compost and OM for 2 years. Last year they hardly had any root structure at all.

Linda, I'll check into more resistant types, thanks.

[feldon30]

There are a number of organic treatments for RKN that were not widely available even 5 years ago. Don't give up and don't limit yourself to RKN varieties.

[b54red]

That is not a bad case of RKN. When they are really bad the roots look more like peanuts strung together.

I was having a terrible time with nematodes on my okra and cucumbers. I started putting down a few pounds of sugar and watering it into the soil a week before planting and placing Nemagone marigolds between the plants and it has helped tremendously. For your tomatoes I recommend adding fresh horse manure to the bed and tilling it in well before planting time and doing the above treatment with the sugar and marigolds.

[walkinggin]

I'm unclear as to what made you decide to pull them and you didn't mention whether you were able to harvest any tomatoes before doing so. I too have an ongoing issue with nematodes, the roots generally look much worse then your photo by the time I pull the plants but I get a decent crop of tomatoes beforehand. Powdery Mildew is a real and potentially more damaging nuisance for me as well.

ginny

[Tonio]

feldonp-looking in to resitant varieties

red- perhaps the pics aren't good, but the upper roots are clean, and below around 12" or so- then they are really fat, and knotty, maybe not like peanuts as you suggested, but I am sure I didn't get all the roots. I'll look into sourcing horse poop. I thoght marigolds need to be planted in the whole bed , and till under for any effect? Sugar eh?

ginny- I did get a good harvest, though I lost to the mildew and TMV, I tried baking soda/milk treatments, then onto Neem oil. I think the neem stopped the mildew, but the combo just wipped the foliage up to about 4 or 5 ' up and the new ( upper growth )was erally stunted. Literally just stems up tp about 5'. BK gave the best load of toms- about 3 dozen, JP BT gave me about 2 &1/2 dozen and these were my fav's, BR and SMR had small quantities but outstanding fruits. I'll post a 1.3# BR when I get a chance. I've already made canned water packs and sauce, and froze most of em. CG was teh worst small and not man y fruit at all.

I tried Serendade last week on potted sophies choice, and its already getting white spots, seems I loose em too.
ll losse

[Heritage]

Originally Posted by Tonio

I did get a good harvest, though I lost to the mildew and TMV

Tonio, I'm curious - how did you verify your plants had TMV?

For nematodes you might want to experiment with grafting onto a RKN resistant rootstock such as Maxifort F1.

Steve

[b54red]

If your upper foot of root are clean then the plant should be able to take in adequate moisture and nutrients. I have pulled many tomatoes with not a single root unaffected and sometimes they are so bad that all the roots just fall apart rotten with nematode damage. If you are only having a problem with lower roots then don't plant so deep and fertilize more frequently with something like Miracle Grow or an organic liquid fertilizer. With shallower roots they may need more frequent watering so I would mulch them good.

The sugar and marigold seems to really have helped. I haven't seen any damage where I have done this since I started doing it two years ago. I have a friend who has also been doing the same thing and it has worked for him and his nematode problem was worse than mine.

[Tonio]

Originally Posted by Heritage

Tonio, I'm curious - how did you verify your plants had TMV?

For nematodes you might want to experiment with grafting onto a RKN resistant rootstock such as Maxifort F1.

Steve

Steve, I can't actually verify it. Going on the written symptoms on brassy/oily stems all the way up to about 4'. Don't have any microscope or time to go to extension program. It did have a smeary texture. Should have said "possible TMV".

[kurt]

http://blog.bbgardens.org/?s=steam+s...ation&x=10&y=6 Have been researching alternate non chemical methods and keep running into this method.

[Tonio]

Steve, got me confused there, its TRM tomato russet mite not TMV Mosaic.
I don't have any pictures of the removed foliage state- it was so depressing

red- I hear you about the upper half is good. That was my 1st thought too-like a raised bed as a remedy. But I think working with the existing soil may be a less expensive way to combat it by adding organic material and compost- getting away from all the ferts. That is what brought up the sunn hemp as a green manure additive. It does take years, but I'd rather use a organic road

Interested in the sugar - have you tested it with sugar only, or was it with the marigolds together? Molasses? do you have any sources about sugar treatments?

here's a BR( big rainbow) pic

San Marzano redorta

[Sun City Linda]

Thats funny Tonio. I though when I was reading your description of symptom that it sounded like Tomato Russet Mites. A lovely (NOT) condition! I have treated them successfully with sulfer and take down.

[kurt]

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1158 Some ammunition.I like the in ground pre installed piping if I had a greenhouse operation and could afford a setup.

[b54red]

Tonio I have done both. I have had the very best results by treating with sugar and then adding the marigolds.

I am certainly no scientist but I think what happens is the nematodes are driven away by the sugar but the marigolds slow their return to the area.

The marigolds will spread and as your plants get older the soil underneath them will be solid marigolds which can be messy. The marigolds also increase the need for extra water and fertilizer as they are pulling from the same soil but their roots are really shallow. By putting down a heavy mulch the marigolds spread is impeded. I like to give the marigolds a little room to spread; but contain them with a good mulch so they don't completely take over.