Home-brew Nematode solution

[John]

Has anybody tried the home-brew Nematode solution suggested by Toby Buckland in the Telegraph in 2011?

Link to Telegraph article

John

[stewart]

I would have to question the validity of increasing nematodes into a patch above a normal range …

Bit like an increasing fox/buzzard population but fewer rabbits,mice/carrion to sustain that spike whereby they correct population to surroundings

Though as a person with little knowledge on nematodes how do these microscopic species react to a dense community populations? Do they react like water on a blot paper whereby they gravitate out in a search for food or is it local to where you establish a pocket in relative terms.

Seems a simplistic approach to an age old problem, I would hazard the fact that as little is spoke of this manipulation to increase nematodes that there is little credence to it bearing results of cost/benefit.

Unless someone can support the argument to …….))

[John]

Hi Stewart

The intention of the post was really about whether or not it was possible to ‘grow your own’ nematodes rather than buying a pack as Charles has done when he has had a slug problem.

So I should now like to ask two questions.
1. Is the watering on of a nematode solution effective at killing slugs?
2. Is the home-brew method a viable alternative to buying a pack of nematodes?

The effectiveness of any nematode solution seems to last only six weeks so my guess is that there in no long-term residual effect. Toby Buckland, who wrote the article, is a professional gardener who had a high profile when he presented Gardeners World on TV.

John

[Sam_uk]

I’m quite interested in this too.

I think it would result in a much lower concentration of nematodes than the commercial solutions. Which I think is probably a good thing.

If in the natural state slugs have a 1/10 chance of getting nematodes, I’m speculating this would change the odds to 1/5 or so. Not enough to completely wipe out the population, but putting the gardener at a slight advantage.

I’m going to give it a try on one bed, with a control bed and will report back.

[Author]

Posts