Dedicated to Outdoor living

How do I get rid of nematodes?

I started a garden back in Sept. I live in Fl. Everything was going good but then within the last few weeks, the tomatoes are turning all yellow and dying. A friend told me that it was nematodes and there insn’t anything I could do about it except for putting a tarp over it next time before planting to kill them. Any ideas?

If one of the other reasons for the declination of your tomato plants is not detected, there is a way for you to check to see if in fact you have a root knot nematode infestation. A nematode infestation should be suspected whenever a steady decline of a particular plant species is observed, including vegetable plants. Symptoms of microscopic nematodes are stunting or yellow leaves such as you have described. If no other apparent causes for your unhealthy plants are obvious, such as over watering, remove the soil from around some of the roots and examine them for signs of nematodes. Carefully ease the roots out of the soil so that the smaller feeder roots are not broken off and can be examined. Nematodes can and will cause root galls (round fiberous balls) or stubby, stunted roots. Roots that are “darkened” or have small lesions and fewer roots than what is normal for that particular plant, are all indications of a possible nematode problem as well. However, not all nematodes will produce visible symptoms. The only way to confirm this, is to scoop up a shovel full of soil from around the root zone and send it off to a laboratory for a professional analysis and confirmation. Take a moist sample from the top 6″ – 18″. One pint will be sufficient for the testing. One way to get around a nematode problem is to plant species of vegetables that are nematode “resistant”. If you look on the garden tags of store bought starter veggies or seeds, particularly tomatoes, you will see letters such as “VFN”. This means that it is resistant to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt and “nematodes” (hence the letters). Hope this has helped you clarify what your problems may be. And Merry Xmas.. Good luck!

Added Info: Almost forgot..Your neighbor is correct in telling you to put “CLEAR” plastic over the planting area. This is called “solarization” and is only a temporary fix. Cover the entire area with clear plastic (soil must be a little moist) for 4 to 6 weeks during hot weather. This will temporarily reduce nematode populations in the upper 12″ of soil. The only other recourse would be to “fumigate” the soil, which is something only a licensed professional can perform and may be illegal in some areas.

$Billy Ray$

14' x 16' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY POLY TARP w/Grommets $42.95

5 Ft. x 7 Ft. 18 Oz. Vinyl Tarp $23.10

6 Ft. x 8 Ft. 18 Oz. Vinyl Tarp $39.60

6 Ft. x 10 Ft. 18 Oz. Vinyl Tarp $41.60

8 Ft. x 10 Ft. 18 Oz. Vinyl Tarp $52.80

10 Ft. x 10 Ft. 18 Oz. Vinyl Tarp $66.00

10 Ft. x 12 Ft. 18 Oz. Vinyl Tarp $79.20

10 Ft. x 20 Ft. 18 Oz. Vinyl Tarp $132.00

12 Ft. x 15 Ft. 18 Oz. Vinyl Tarp $118.80

12 Ft. x 20 Ft. 18 Oz. Vinyl Tarp $158.40

12 Ft. x 25 Ft. 18 Oz. Vinyl Tarp $180.00

14 Ft. x 20 Ft. 18 Oz. Vinyl Tarp $168.00

14 Ft. x 25 Ft. 18 Oz. Vinyl Tarp $210.00

16 Ft. x 20 Ft. 18 Oz. Vinyl Tarp $187.50

20 Ft. x 20 Ft. 18 Oz. Vinyl Tarp $240.00

20 Ft. x 30 Ft. 18 Oz. Vinyl Tarp $360.00

Road Legends1934 Ford Pickup 1/18 Scale Yellow with "canvas" tarp Diecast $32.99

6 Ft. x 8 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $28.80

8 Ft. x 10 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $48.00

8 Ft. x 12 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $57.60

10 Ft. x 12 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $59.40

10 Ft. x 16 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $79.20

10 Ft. x 18 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $89.10

10 Ft. x 20 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $99.00

10 Ft. x 30 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $148.50

10 Ft. x 38 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $188.10

10 Ft. x 46 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $227.70

10 Ft. x 50 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $247.50

12 Ft. x 14 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $83.16

12 Ft. x 16 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $95.04

12 Ft. x 18 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $106.92

12 Ft. x 20 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $118.80

12 Ft. x 24 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $142.56

12 Ft. x 26 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $154.44

12 Ft. x 36 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $213.84

12 Ft. x 50 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $297.00

14 Ft. x 24 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $166.32

16 Ft. x 18 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $142.56

16 Ft. x 20 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $158.40

20 Ft. x 20 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $198.00

20 Ft. x 26 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $257.40

20 Ft. x 30 Ft. 10 Oz. Vinyl Coated Mesh Tarp $297.00

5 Ft. x 7 Ft. Flame Retardant Vinyl Tarps - 13 OZ. $21.00

6 Ft. x 8 Ft. Flame Retardant Vinyl Tarps - 13 OZ. $36.00

6 Ft. x 10 Ft. Flame Retardant Vinyl Tarps - 13 OZ. $38.00

8 Ft. x 10 Ft. Flame Retardant Vinyl Tarps - 13 OZ. $48.00

10 Ft. x 10 Ft. Flame Retardant Vinyl Tarps - 13 OZ. $60.00

10 Ft. x 12 Ft. Flame Retardant Vinyl Tarps - 13 OZ. $70.00

10 Ft. x 20 Ft. Flame Retardant Vinyl Tarps - 13 OZ. $99.00

12 Ft. x 15 Ft. Flame Retardant Vinyl Tarps - 13 OZ. $89.10

12 Ft. x 20 Ft. Flame Retardant Vinyl Tarps - 13 OZ. $118.80

12 Ft. x 25 Ft. Flame Retardant Vinyl Tarps - 13 OZ. $148.50

14 Ft. x 20 Ft. Flame Retardant Vinyl Tarps - 13 OZ. $138.60

14 Ft. x 25 Ft. Flame Retardant Vinyl Tarps - 13 OZ. $173.25

16 Ft. x 20 Ft. Flame Retardant Vinyl Tarps - 13 OZ. $158.40

20 Ft. x 20 Ft. Flame Retardant Vinyl Tarps - 13 OZ. $198.00

20 Ft. x 30 Ft. Flame Retardant Vinyl Tarps - 13 OZ. $297.00

30' x 30' High Visibility Yellow Tarp $59.40

Mini Grabbit-Premium Tarp Holder-4 Pack Yellow-(NEW) $4.50

6' x 20' High Visibility Yellow Tarp - 3.3 OZ. $7.92

8' x 10' High Visibility Yellow Tarp - 3.3 OZ. $5.28

20' x 40' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY POLY TARP w/ grommets $149.15

20' x 50' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY POLY TARP w/ grommets $187.50

18' x 20' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $68.50

18' x 24' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $81.50

10' x 16' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $31.75

15' x 15' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $43.00

16' x 24' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $72.75

12' x 20' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $46.30

6' x 8' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $11.00

12' x 24' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $55.00

10' x 12' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $24.25

10' x 20' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $38.95

10' x 10' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $19.25

16' x 20' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $60.75

12' x 16' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $37.25

14' x 20' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $53.25

10' x 14' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $27.85

20' x 24' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $90.35

30' x 30' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $169.70

24' x 30' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $134.00

20' x 20' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $75.60

20' x 30' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $111.85

24' x 24' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $108.25

24' x 40' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $180.00

30' x 40' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $223.00

30' x 50' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $277.00

40' x 40' YELLOW PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY TARP w/UV BLOCKER $295.00

6x8 & 8x9 Heavy Duty 10oz Vinyl Tarps, Protective Cover $16.90

10' x 60' High Visibility Yellow Tarp $49.50

A 20 pack of yellow Tarp Stakes,Tarp Spikes. Steel hook stake. Made In USA!!!!!! $18.40

20' x 30' High Visibility Yellow Tarp $39.60

30' x 50' High Visibility Yellow Tarp $99.00

40' x 60' High Visibility Yellow Tarp $158.40

50' x 100' High Visibility Yellow Tarp $330.00

12' x 20' High Visibility Yellow Tarp $15.84

18' x 24' High Visibility Yellow Tarp $28.51

26' x 40' High Visibility Yellow Tarp $68.64

Tarp Vinyl H D Truck R.V. Skirt Industrial Sign Yellow $8.55

CBC 4 Pack, 6", Yellow EZ Grabbit Premium Tarp Holder $9.67