NEMATODES

I've been reading about these and wondered if anyone has given them a try, if so do they work?

I've lost three cucumber plants so far, something seems to be eating through the stem just above the soil and when I've pulled the plants up there seems to be no root system left. The plants were all about a foot tall when they keeled over.

I wondered if an application of a suitable nematode would be the answer as I don't want to use chemical sprays.

 

Hi Jovi. No expert here but a few points for you to think about.
You say something ate the plants just above the soil. Have you seen any evidence of something eating them there.
All curcubits are prone to neck rot, and the stem just rots and keeles over just above soil level.
What I would say is when transplanting be very careful about planting depth and never plant deeper than they were in the original pot.
I think neck rot sounds more likely than something eating them.
Lets see what others think.

 

Hi Alice. You could be right, I'm new to veggie growing so it's all trial and error this year and probably next year too.

When I pulled the plants up and examined the soil I found tiny little maggots or maybe they were worms around the area where the roots were. They were very small and almost see through. That's why I assumed the plants had been eaten, I didn't think of neck rot until you mentioned it.

 

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...m=1&hl=en&sa=N&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUK290&tbs=isch:1

Hi Jovi - could it have been vine weevil that ate your root system? I"m not an expert or regular poster so dont know if the link above will send you to a picture of them. BUt, they are about 1cm long grubs, with white pale bodies and amber heads that eat plants- they had several of my tomato plants last month.

Throw out the plants and the soil! I did use nematodes for them and so far garden seems to be clear.

Good Luck!

Emma

 

Hi Emma. Yes those are the little blighters I saw, thanks for the link, very useful. I've ordered my nematodes online so hopefully it will won't be long until their days are numbered.