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The Tucson Gardener |
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Ugly Roots Welcome to the world of nematode infestation where microscopic worms have moved from the soil into the roots where they feed and breed. These root knot nematodes infect over 2000 species and are most active in the warm months although they show up regularly in the roots of my winter lettuce. If you think having the nematodes in your garden is bad news, wait till you find out eradication is nearly impossible. My vegetable garden has been infested for years but I've learned to live with the creatures knowing they're going to infest some of my plants but not all, and that healthy plants should be able to withstand some degree of infestation. Once your garden becomes infested, you have to learn to plant nematode resistant varieties and rotate crops so you're not helping aggravate the problem. If the garden area isn't too large you can try solarizing the soil during the hot months of summer letting heat and moisture under sheets of clear plastic cook the culprits in the shallow root zone.
On their own nematodes are slow to move through the soil but desert gardeners can infest other areas by transplanting infected plants or by relocating infected soil via garden tools. If you have a nematode problem in your garden, don't be too quick to share your plants with friends and if you don't have the problem, make sure you're not bringing the pest home unexpectedly. The root knot nematode isn't a fun pest in the garden, but it is one of the trials and
tribulations or Tucson's desert gardening. (1999) |
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