Beating RKN

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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Beating RKN

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sergio

Registered:1234733830
Posts: 115

Posted 1387596226	Reply with quote #1

Hello everyone, I have been battling Root Knot Nematode for a long time, not knowing what it was at first, I was losing trees, and no progress fig wise. Five years ago I started shredding leaves, mulching around the fig trees in the fall with at least 4 to 6 inches of it, added some lime. Last 3 years my trees have been taking off to full grown stature, and fig wise was very successful, with early ripening and sweet tasting. Hard work but well worth it. There is still time to mulch. Also I have not noticed any FMV for what it's worth. I believe the earthworms under the mulch is the secret to the success. I will dig under one of the trees that suffered the most from the desease in the spring to see how deep they go and if they are still there. Zone 7, about 10 miles from the southern tip of New Jersey. Sergio

Herman2

Registered:1189809424
Posts: 2,625

Posted 1387597671	Reply with quote #2

Way to go Sergio,add as much as 10 inches of mulch under tree ,and you will see them jumping up,that fast they will grow. Get leaf mulch from your city,location,where they ,process the leaves they pick up in late Fall vacuuming. That is what i do and yes I add limestone in top too.

sergio

Registered:1234733830
Posts: 115

Posted 1387598238	Reply with quote #3

Herman, you're right, it's like going from night to day. You're posts are always appreciated.

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1387598858	Reply with quote #4

we talk about FMV a lot in the forum, but not much about RKN of late. i think RKN is more destructive to fig trees than FMV. __________________ Pete Durham, NC Zone 7b "don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill "the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher *** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. * * and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...***

Ingevald

Registered:1200844977
Posts: 312

Posted 1387601890	Reply with quote #5

This is an interesting topic. If you have noticed a reduced amount of infection, the mulch may be supporting a colony of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. If you do a Google search using the terms arbuscular mycorrhizal & root knot nematode, you will find some articles about the topic. Apparently this type of mycorrhizal fungi is able to control, suppress, etc., the root knot nematode. Here are some sample papers: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11104-011-1070-x#close http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22147206 It is encouraging that nature has a way of combating or at least keeping in check, this menacing pest. Ingevald

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