mustard will kill nematodes

 Some weeks back ABC tv's gardening program described a discovery
by the CSIRO that mustard is an effective organic control for soil
nematodes.

They said to plant mustard seed as a green manure, and when it is
4 - 5 cm in height, dig it into the moist soil. The key mechanism
is a substance in the mustard that decomposes into isothiocyanates
and these effectively fumigate the soil and destroy your nematodes.

(I believe I have in the past posted a different organic technique,
one that involves watering the soil with a solution of molasses.)
--
John Savage                (my news address is not valid for email)

 g'day john,

yes ahve heard about mustard it is one of our overall garden companion
plants that pops up as a vo;unteer, we have not had nematodes here in
the 3 years we have been here can't say as it is the mustards fault
but hey chuckle.

the sugar or better still molasses is a base organic growers method up
this way least wise, also growing those french marigolds not sure of
their name(starts with a 't' i think), but they also grow up a heap of
them and harvest and shred them and bury them in a shallow trench down
the middle of the garden beds. we used to grow them around the edges
and again never any nematodes. any marigold type would do the stinking
roger i reckon would be the better as it is the stronger in aroma and
oil, but not many want to grow it.

we don't do rotational growing not enough room but we continually feed
our beds with decomposing hay mulches and kitchen scraps as well as
the spent vege' plants, this has worked well for us also. we think
that continual rejuvenation of the medium also works against the
nematodes.


On Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:27:43 GMT, John Savage

snipped
With peace and brightest of blessings,

len & bev

--
"Be Content With What You Have And
May You Find Serenity and Tranquillity In
A World That You May Not Understand."

http://www.lensgarden.com.au/

 

Tagetes from memory

 yeh some name like that l.c,

anyhow they are very popular as companion plantings in organic
gardens.

On Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:48:18 +0800, "Loosecanon"
snipped
With peace and brightest of blessings,

len & bev

--
"Be Content With What You Have And
May You Find Serenity and Tranquillity In
A World That You May Not Understand."

http://www.lensgarden.com.au/

 On Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:51:43 +1000, len wrote:


The cheif gardner just plants marigolds in a border along the vege
gardens. They don't work on cabbage moth. At times, between them and the
nasty dispersions, it is hard to find veges.