root knot nematodes

chance · November 10, 2012

I need a new way to combat rootknot nematodes in my hot and sandy soil.
The best thing I have found is sorghum as a summer cover crop. It either
kills or repels the little devils but the roots are big and tough and hard to
till under. Sesame seems to suppress them but struggles in the summer heat.
Any non-chemical miracle cures?

ginger2778 · November 16, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by chance

I need a new way to combat rootknot nematodes in my hot and sandy soil.
The best thing I have found is sorghum as a summer cover crop. It either
kills or repels the little devils but the roots are big and tough and hard to
till under. Sesame seems to suppress them but struggles in the summer heat.
Any non-chemical miracle cures?

Chance, best thing I found, and it has always worked for me is to put a piece of black plastic over my soil area in the high heat of the summer and leave it there for a month. It will kill any weeds present and also the RKNs. It won't help you this year though.

There are several nematode resistant varieties you can buy seed for too, chances are you already knew that I bet! TomatoGrowersSupply has several for example.
RKNs are one of the reasons I grow in Self watering containers now, I can grow any variety, not just resistant ones, and they can't get in.

SWCs also keep them always watered and there is always fertilizer and garden lime for them too, so they just go wild in them. Last year was my first year doing it that way, and I grew some in the ground too as a control, and the ones in the Earthboxes (SWCs) ATE THEIR LUNCH!!! More than twice as tall and many more fruits.
That's how I get around the Nematodes.
-Marsha

amideutch · November 17, 2012

Here are a couple links that might interest. Ami

http://www.indianjournals.com/ijor.a...=2&article=019

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/l...495016357.html

You might find that making up a plant dip consisting of Actinovate, Biota Max and MycoGrow soluable might help. When Planting out your seedlings dip the roots in the dip solution prior to planting. Ami

peter10361038 · November 28, 2012

Neem Cake has worked well for me this year.
There is an added bonus that it is also a fertilizer.
A search on neem cake gives many links mentioning it's properties in relation to controlling root knot nematodes.

November 10, 2012	#1
chance Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Melbourne,Fl. Posts: 10	root knot nematodes I need a new way to combat rootknot nematodes in my hot and sandy soil. The best thing I have found is sorghum as a summer cover crop. It either kills or repels the little devils but the roots are big and tough and hard to till under. Sesame seems to suppress them but struggles in the summer heat. Any non-chemical miracle cures?

November 17, 2012	#3
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Here are a couple links that might interest. Ami http://www.indianjournals.com/ijor.a...=2&article=019 http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/l...495016357.html You might find that making up a plant dip consisting of Actinovate, Biota Max and MycoGrow soluable might help. When Planting out your seedlings dip the roots in the dip solution prior to planting. Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

November 28, 2012	#4
peter10361038 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Thorntons Beach Qld Posts: 1	Neem Cake has worked well for me this year. There is an added bonus that it is also a fertilizer. A search on neem cake gives many links mentioning it's properties in relation to controlling root knot nematodes.