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| I want to report the result of my test using mustard cover crop against root knot nematode in carrot beds. Last year I planted mustard seeds as recommended around end of June and let them grow for about 2 month until flowering stage. After that I chopped the plants with weed wacker and dug them in the soil, watered and covered with clear plastic. So I had (I hopped) 3 ways to kill nematodes - trap in the mustard roots(they can't get out), fumigate with gas, that crashed mustard produces and also solarize the soil for at least one hot month. This year I planted carrots in the same spot. The results were not that excellent as I hopped. For about 15 carrots I took out so far, at least 3 were very deformed, and additional 3-4 were strait, but had some galls at the roots at the very end of the carrot. So nematodes are still there(sigh). But I am able to get some reasonable crop(for home garden I do not care much about the shape and appearance) anyway. So even if I promised myself it will be my last attempt to grow carrots if nematodes are still there, I decided to do more research. The KRN resistant carrot seeds are still in development, so my next attempt could be marigolds or beneficial nematodes. It was a post here recommended beneficial nematodes against KRN. I see one particular site that sells them(SF nematodes) and climes they are 100% successful against KRN. However, all other sites I can find selling the same type of beneficial nematodes do not even mention KRN in a long list of pets they treat. Did anybody tried them in their gardens? What was the results? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Yes I have posted here several times about the excellent results I have had from using SF nems in eliminating the majority of my RKN problems (not to mention the elimination of many other soil-dwelling pests). But I will qualify that by saying I never grow carrots in that particular garden as they aren't a part of the rotation schedule for that garden. So I can't attest to the results of using them for that particular crop. There are many strains of beneficial nems but SF nems are the only ones that are consistently recommended for RKN. I also think it makes a difference where you order them from as my batch from GardensAlive appears to have been much more effective than the batch I ordered from another supplier. I'm not saying they are the only good source, just the one I used. But I'd recommend buying them from a fully reputable vendor only. Dave |
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| Thank you, Dave, I will try it this year and let you know how it works on carrots. |
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| I don't have root knot nematodes but I did the mustard treatment after my potatoes last year anyway. It was kind of fun to do, chopping the greens and getting them turned under in 30 minutes. I think it was good for the soil in a yum yum way, and because of the digging and chopping I managed to get every last spud out of the ground. That spot went to onions this year, and it has performed well. |
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