What is the organic alternative for nematodes?

[Venkata Lakshmi]

What is the household alternative for nematodes?

 

[Chuck]

What is the household alternative for nematodes?

Nematodes are a living breathing form of life. There is no alternative, household or otherwise. Are you referring to beneficial nematodes or harmful nematodes? There are home remedies for controlling harmful nematodes.

 

[The Preserver]

Nematodes are a living breathing form of life. There is no alternative, household or otherwise. Are you referring to beneficial nematodes or harmful nematodes? There are home remedies for controlling harmful nematodes.

There are home remedies for controlling harmful nematodes? I actually did not know that. Do you have some links?

 

[Chuck]

There are home remedies for controlling harmful nematodes? I actually did not know that. Do you have some links?

There are quite a few sites. Just google how to control root knot nematodes.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in892

 

[DirtMechanic]

Nema breding volume varies by temperature. A generation may be born every 20 days in summer heat but take 90 days in winter. Their eggs are amazingly impervious, but the other stages of their cycle each have attack points. The worst is once they pierce a plant and you cannot use a system control. Catching them in the open during the warming spring is a key.

 

[Noel Pagotto]

Harmful nematodes are usually the ones that feed on the roots of your plants. They really only are a problem when there's not enough oxygen in the soil. And they usually go after plants that aren't getting all the nutrients they need so the cells walls of the root are weak.
One way to deal with it them is apply compost and compost tea that you know has really good biology. The really good biology will make sure that the soil has enough oxygen and the plant gets all the nutrients it needs. The right soil biology will outcompete and eat the harmful nematodes.

 

[Kansas Terri]

French marigolds will kill root-knot nematodes.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Harmful nematodes are usually the ones that feed on the roots of your plants. They really only are a problem when there's not enough oxygen in the soil. And they usually go after plants that aren't getting all the nutrients they need so the cells walls of the root are weak.
One way to deal with it them is apply compost and compost tea that you know has really good biology. The really good biology will make sure that the soil has enough oxygen and the plant gets all the nutrients it needs. The right soil biology will outcompete and eat the harmful nematodes.

You may be interested in the idea of using ground shell and other forms of chitin in compost. Nema make their protective layers of chitin, and it is rumoured that the biology turning up to utilize the chitin in meal will also eat nema and anything else using chitin for protection. Essential oils are used too. Nema go far too deep to obliterate, but you can slow them long enough to make a productive crop.

 

[roadrunner]

This guy doesn't try and control the nematodes and it doesn't adversely affect his annual plants until they get very old. He also has perennials in his garden and they don't seem any worse for the wear, because of his very healthy soil.

If you go to the 20-minute point in the video, he starts talking about his nematode issue and he even pulls up a plant and show how the root system is infested, but it doesn't affect the plant. Mostly because of how fertile his soil is. This guy makes some great videos of an incredible suburban farm.

 

[Meadowlark]

Farmer Jim is right about one thing....the importance of healthy soil. It is the single most important item to home gardening success.

The bad nematodes can be easily controlled with the use of a cereal grain cover crop (e.g. Elbon rye). Its important to use cereal rye and not annual rye. Just broadcast the seed at 1 pound per 100 sq. ft. I've used for decades in an area that was previously hopelessly infected with them .

It works. It's good for the soil. It's easy and cheap. Is it a household alternative? I guess not.

 

[Radish Geek]

Marigolds kill nematodes, and they can be planted after your spring crops are harvested, go to to seed in time to not interfere with fall planting, and best of all they're very easy to grow. They also repel mosquitoes in large enough quantities. They're also cheap to buy seed for.