I'm raising nematodes in the garden 🙂
#grownostr
#permaculture
#permies
Discussion
Is that something anyone can do? I'm regularly buying them to keep my plants free from flies. Maybe I could produce my own 👀
There are lots of different types that do different things. By flies do you mean fungus gnats?
I used to buy nematodes for that, but they are kind of expensive and don't last as long as bacteria that achieves the same job. What I use now is bacillus thuringiensis israelensis there is a product called 'mosquitos bits' (because you can also use it to kill mosquitos) that stores much better and in theory you could grow that bacteria out quite easily, but I find a bag of that goes a long way anyway.
Yes, fungus gnats it is. Had to look that up 😅 yes the nematodes aren't really cheap this is why I was asking about farming them. thanks for the hint with those bacteria! I will check if I can get those instead then
Yeah they can be a right pain until you have a good solution for them. There are other ways to deal with them, but I still find the bacillus the best. If you can't find it let us know.
I found some tablets made from the bacillus, it seems. Made for rainwater tons - I'll try them and add a bit to the water. Thanks again for the hint!
Some of the nurseries around here sell "beneficial nematodes" to kill fleas in the yard. Never have tried them.
Oh I didn't know they killed fleas too. Other uses they sell them here is for chafer beetles and ant colonies for peoples lawns but I found the latter didn't work particularly well as doesn't actually target the ants they just don't like them. I guess some ants are more tolerant to annoying neighbours that wont leave your house.
Yes, the instructions say that the soil needs to remain moist for the nematodes to survive, but thats not easy to do here in summer. But many folks say they really work.