Root Knot Nematodes (RKN)

[AlittleSalt]

Yes, I'm holding out on putting up a support system until I see they need it. With the RKN problem still a possibility, I don't want to put in the extra work until the last minute.

[bower]

Salt, I came upon this webpage when I was reading around the fishy thread last night. Thought of you and hung onto it until I found your thread.
It is about as much info on RKN as you can imagine.
Interesting that the first thing they talked about is what B54red said, manure!
Will be interested to see how everything does this year...hope your efforts all worked out.

https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/viewhtml.php?id=149

[AlittleSalt]

All we did to combat the RKN did not work in at least part of the garden. The first pictures are of tomato plants in a raised bed and a less or not infected area in the main garden. The last pictures are in the worst infected area of the main garden. All of the cages are the same height. All the plants were planted between March 16 - 20th.

[AlittleSalt]

We have given some thought of raising a couple pigs in the main garden or something like that next year. It is already fenced in and only a few changes would need to be made. I've never raised a pig. I haven't researched it at all.

[Worth1]

The smell might make you think outer wise on the hogs.

Worth

[Worth1]

Think about raising a steer instead.
I have to warn you it will become a pet.
Another option is meat rabbits.
They are easy to butcher on your own.
The former you will have to pay someone to do it.
No way can I see you guys building a fire and scalding and scraping the bristles off a hog in hot water.
It is a work house big time even for people that know how to do it.


Worth

[AlittleSalt]

Yes, all animals become pets... Jan won't eat rabbit.

#$%^ RKN

[AlittleSalt]

I started weeding in an area that looks RKN infected. These are the first two weeds pulled up - absolutely RKN in the roots.

[AlittleSalt]

Jan finally had some time to go out into the main garden today. It's very easy to see where the RKN has infected certain plants. Maybe one quarter is not infected - or is less infected with RKN. As she looked around, she said, "Chickens, I want some chickens."

Raising chickens out in the garden would be a different experience for us. We did not raise chickens as our children grew up, so it will be a different experience for them and our grandchildren as well. We will need to figure in expenses of feeding them. We already have all the materials for a nice chicken house. We will need to buy chicken wire. There is a lot to think about. No matter what, sometimes you need to make lemonade out of life's lemons.

Pictures of the garden - the small tomato plants are infected with RKN. They were planted at the same time as taller healthier looking plants. The third picture is of Sugar Snap Peas. It seems they are not bothered by the RKN. The last picture is of a raised bed with plants the size they should be for late April.

[maxjohnson]

Root knot nematode Parisian carrots. Not bad, but it'll be containers next time.

[AlittleSalt]

First - Max, they look good. We'll be growing carrots in containers too.

Why I clicked on this thread was for a two-part update. On other threads, I have shown pictures of good looking tomatoes. We have tomato plants growing all over the place. Some areas are less infected with RKN, and the plants look good there.

[MissS]

Robert it is good to see that you do have some nice tomatoes for all of your hard work. I was a little scared about that.

[AlittleSalt]

Then there is an L shaped area where the plants are still less than a foot tall. They are trying to grow and produce, but the RKN is bad in that area. It takes up between 2/3 and 3/4 of our 45' x 45' main garden. Yes, it is depressing to look at.

Something good happened today for that L shaped area of the garden. My brother and I were out looking at the garden and shootin' the breeze when chickens became the subject. It's the same brother I wrote about him not liking birds or chickens. He starts by saying, "That would be a good place to raise some chickens." Yes, it would be an excellent place to raise some chickens for eggs (Not meat) I can't eat a pet, and they would become pets.

As it turns out, my brother's diet has him eating two eggs every day. He's been on this diet for years. I'm thinking it has to do with his epilepsy/seizures. I don't know? I'll be talking to my wife about it. It's a good first step.

[dmforcier]

My sympathies. That's sad little corner. Nice to see that you're getting some peppers, though. The plant is stunted, but what is there looks healthy and vigorous. Let us know if RKN concentrates the heat.

Go chickens!

[AlittleSalt]

Thanks Patti and DM.

I hope the heat is concentrated. The last two pictures are Purple Jalapeno and Chili de Arbol.