root knot nematodes

gardeninglee · September 7, 2016

I have them in my containers! I just pulled up a few plants over the weekend and I saw they had the weird bumpy roots - I had a horrible year! Hardly any fruit set.

I plan to dump out all the old potting soil, spray down the containers and spray with bleach and refill with new potting soil. Most of the containers are some sort of plastic but I have two large half wine barrels made out of wood.

Will that do the trick? Or do I need to replace the containers too?

dmforcier · September 7, 2016

You could line the barrels with plastic. It would be a shame to throw them out.

The plastic pots, I would think that bleach would do it, but that's just a guess.

ginger2778 · September 7, 2016

They are in the soil and are mobile, so they migrate in. Make sure that your containers are on an impervious material such as a sheet of 6 mil thick plastic, or get self watering containers such as Earthboxes that have a solid bottom and drain excess water from a site well above the soil line.
RKNs are big trouble but a physical barrier works wonders. Dont let the drain holes of your containers touch the soil, or they WILL get in.

My Foot Smells · September 8, 2016

knowing is 1/2 the battle, implementing is the other 1/2.

or so it seems. when I was younger, I always tried to reinvent the wheel. now that I am older, just try and keep the wheel greased.

it doesn't have to be complicated, unless you make it. good advice here, simple, get your "stuff" up off the ground.

September 7, 2016	#1
gardeninglee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: West Los Angeles Posts: 203	root knot nematodes I have them in my containers! I just pulled up a few plants over the weekend and I saw they had the weird bumpy roots - I had a horrible year! Hardly any fruit set. I plan to dump out all the old potting soil, spray down the containers and spray with bleach and refill with new potting soil. Most of the containers are some sort of plastic but I have two large half wine barrels made out of wood. Will that do the trick? Or do I need to replace the containers too?

September 7, 2016	#2
dmforcier Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,825	You could line the barrels with plastic. It would be a shame to throw them out. The plastic pots, I would think that bleach would do it, but that's just a guess. __________________ Stupidity got us into this mess. Why can't it get us out? - Will Rogers

September 7, 2016	#3
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	They are in the soil and are mobile, so they migrate in. Make sure that your containers are on an impervious material such as a sheet of 6 mil thick plastic, or get self watering containers such as Earthboxes that have a solid bottom and drain excess water from a site well above the soil line. RKNs are big trouble but a physical barrier works wonders. Dont let the drain holes of your containers touch the soil, or they WILL get in.

September 8, 2016	#4
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	knowing is 1/2 the battle, implementing is the other 1/2. or so it seems. when I was younger, I always tried to reinvent the wheel. now that I am older, just try and keep the wheel greased. it doesn't have to be complicated, unless you make it. good advice here, simple, get your "stuff" up off the ground.