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Follansbee, Wv

I am wondering what concentrations of which varieties people are using. I have found wildly varying application rates ranging from as many as 10 million/600 sq ft to as few as 2 million/4000 sq ft. The two varieties I plan on using are Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema feltiae. Please don't post a link to a nematode site showing application rates. For every site posted about a particular rate, I can post several with completely different rates, hence the reason for this post. For those that are using beneficial nematodes, I would like to know what varieties you are using, at what rate, and have you found that rate to be effective. Thanks.

3/2/2005 8:08:44 AM

Montoursville, PA

Nematodes are pretty high, in the soil food chain. If you have moderate to high OM or humus and there is no pointed proven problem I think I would put that money into simple basics that build or improve the Soil Food Web in a general sense.

3/2/2005 11:33:16 AM

Follansbee, Wv

I appreciate the input Doc, but as an organic grower you, of all people, should know that several things can devestate a nematode population. Soil compaction, tilling, harsh winters and other factors can reduce a population below a useful level in a single season regardless of how much humus the soil contains. By the time the population recovers from a very hard winter, the soil dwelling pests can be grown to a stage in their life where nematodes are ineffective. Therefore, my goal is to boost the nematode population as soon as the soil conditions will permit their survival, and in numbers sufficient to accomplish the mission.

3/2/2005 12:29:24 PM

Long Island,New York

Nematodes !....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

3/2/2005 12:39:53 PM

Follansbee, Wv

A very helpful reply Glenn, thanks. Keep 'em coming.

3/5/2005 4:07:05 PM

Montoursville, PA

What tests have proven your need for these critters and what tests will you use to prove the proven effect of added nematodes?

There are of course places where you can have your soil biologically tested. Usually if that level of service is used they will suggest type and numbers based on discovery.

If this testing has not been done then no one can know diddly squat about specific needs. To spend big money on nematodes without the knowlege is fine but not to swift an activity to be into.

Making aerobic tea from proven quality compost will get proven biological ballance which will include nematodes and support for the good nematodes in the local soil. If anything makes sense this activity might because it can be proven ballenced or strengthened one way or another when and if biological testing is undertaken.

My first Soil Food Web biological testing will be done this spring. It will however only include a hundred bucks worth of bacteria and fungi quality and levels. At this time I do not feel I wish to enter into the rather pricy evaluations of the higher forms of life, in the patch.

I am also offended by advertisers pitching this or that without even an ounce of knowlege concerning any specific patch's need.

I enjoyed Dan Carlson's honest claim to no knowlege, of any support, to his patch outside the use, of the old time basics manure, compost, remineralization and PH adjustment. And there before me eyes was one of the largest pumpkins ever grown. That just about says it all.........unless there are specific problems proven by biological testing.

I do not know what you are trying to say......."Me of all people should know". I do nothing outside of common sense basic biological stuff without biological testing to this moment in time. I read a lot. I share experience and what I read that may be of interest.

3/18/2005 4:49:39 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Monty,

Mpost beneficial Nematodes are predators which are designed not to graze bacteria but rather to kill various species of white grubs. If you have Scarab Beetle Larvae nibbling roots, then proper use of parasitic nematodes (properly watered in on a cloudy day) might help.

The rate applied & how well they work non a given type of grub depends on the species & variey of nematode as well as how it is packaged & applied.

3/19/2005 12:12:27 AM

Follansbee, Wv

Thank you Steve. I do, in fact, have a large grub population, hence my interest in nematodes. I would prefer a natural predator to an inorganic poison to rid my patch and garden of them.

Doc, the only test required is to turn a spade full of dirt and find grubs. With your organic growing I assumed you had knowledge of the benefits of nematodes in the battle against grubs and other soil dwelling insects in the larval stage of life. If you are making tea from compost that was cold cooked over a long time, you may have a nematode population available. Unfortunately, my compost is hot cooked, with temps reaching 150°F. Nematodes simply cannot survive that. So to avoid using Grub-X or some other chemical, I plan on using nematodes.

3/21/2005 6:35:00 PM

Montoursville, PA

Milky Spore Disease will do in your white grubs and last up to ten even fifteen years. This is not a chemical. It only works on white grubs and continues to expand in numbers as the grubs are infected year after year. My first application lasted effectively for nearly fifteen years.

I find no advisement concerning the presence or lack of presence, of biological life forms that is within reasonable cost. To many ifs, mights and maybes for my consideration.

The cost to evaluate specific need is usually not within the realm of hobby grower budgets. Your tea effectively applied will, in time bring ballance, to your whole biological ballances. If white grubs are your major concern at least consider Milky Spore Disease. It is not a cheap shot either but it is specifically, for the target, you have just now brought into light.

3/22/2005 11:06:22 AM