I pulled up a bolted spinach plant today (just clearing out that patch
for the next thing) and noticed that there were several VERY small
wormlike critters in the dirt clinging to the root. By small, I mean
they were only maybe 3 mm long and less than half a mm in diameter.
They were white and they wiggled initially but stopped within a second
of being exposed to the air. When I touched them, they moved again.

There was no evidence of rot on the root of the plant, no indication
that they had been eating at the root, and no evidence of a diseased
state in any other part of the plant for that matter.

Are these nematodes? Are they the good guys or the bad guys?

Mark

Mark wrote:
I pulled up a bolted spinach plant today (just clearing out that patch
for the next thing) and noticed that there were several VERY small
wormlike critters in the dirt clinging to the root. By small, I mean
they were only maybe 3 mm long and less than half a mm in diameter.
They were white and they wiggled initially but stopped within a second
of being exposed to the air. When I touched them, they moved again.

There was no evidence of rot on the root of the plant, no indication
that they had been eating at the root, and no evidence of a diseased
state in any other part of the plant for that matter.

Are these nematodes? Are they the good guys or the bad guys?

Mark

I'm taking a wag here so don't take it as gospel.... grub larvae maybe?

--
Steve

"Mark" wrote in message
om...
I pulled up a bolted spinach plant today (just clearing out that patch
for the next thing) and noticed that there were several VERY small
wormlike critters in the dirt clinging to the root. By small, I mean
they were only maybe 3 mm long and less than half a mm in diameter.
They were white and they wiggled initially but stopped within a second
of being exposed to the air. When I touched them, they moved again.

There was no evidence of rot on the root of the plant, no indication
that they had been eating at the root, and no evidence of a diseased
state in any other part of the plant for that matter.

Are these nematodes? Are they the good guys or the bad guys?

Nematodes are usually microscopic. Probably a juvenile grub. Probably
a baddie. -Olin

"jc" wrote in message ...
"Mark" wrote in message
om...
I pulled up a bolted spinach plant today (just clearing out that patch
for the next thing) and noticed that there were several VERY small
wormlike critters in the dirt clinging to the root. By small, I mean
they were only maybe 3 mm long and less than half a mm in diameter.
They were white and they wiggled initially but stopped within a second
of being exposed to the air. When I touched them, they moved again.

There was no evidence of rot on the root of the plant, no indication
that they had been eating at the root, and no evidence of a diseased
state in any other part of the plant for that matter.

Are these nematodes? Are they the good guys or the bad guys?

Nematodes are usually microscopic. Probably a juvenile grub. Probably
a baddie. -Olin


Any suggestions on less-toxic ways to get rid of them?

Mark

On 22 May 2003 09:40:20 -0700, (Mark)
wrote:




Any suggestions on less-toxic ways to get rid of them?


I just squish them when I find them.

Pat

Pat Meadows wrote:
On 22 May 2003 09:40:20 -0700, (Mark)
wrote:




Any suggestions on less-toxic ways to get rid of them?



I just squish them when I find them.

Pat

I don't worry about 'em in the garden but I do treat the lawn
for them. I lost a whole yard one because of those little
suckers.... that's not happenin' again.

--
Steve

Find a form of Bt that kills grubs and caterpillars. Then put it in
your hose-end sprayer or another type of sprayer. Water your plants
with it everytime you water and that usually keeps the rascals at bay.
You can use diatomaceous earth powder for caterpillars that you can
see on leaves and such. But bt liquid will work underground for ya.
Just keep using it every other day or so when you water the plants and
results will occur. Also visit www.organicgardening.com for other
ideas.

Carla Goodloe

(Mark) wrote in message . com...
"jc" wrote in message ...
"Mark" wrote in message
om...
I pulled up a bolted spinach plant today (just clearing out that patch
for the next thing) and noticed that there were several VERY small
wormlike critters in the dirt clinging to the root. By small, I mean
they were only maybe 3 mm long and less than half a mm in diameter.
They were white and they wiggled initially but stopped within a second
of being exposed to the air. When I touched them, they moved again.

There was no evidence of rot on the root of the plant, no indication
that they had been eating at the root, and no evidence of a diseased
state in any other part of the plant for that matter.

Are these nematodes? Are they the good guys or the bad guys?

Nematodes are usually microscopic. Probably a juvenile grub. Probably
a baddie. -Olin


Any suggestions on less-toxic ways to get rid of them?

Mark

(Mark) wrote in message . com...

There was no evidence of rot on the root of the plant, no indication
that they had been eating at the root, and no evidence of a diseased
state in any other part of the plant for that matter.

You will get a bunch of fool responses about using one pesticide or another.
But like you said no sign of damage or disease.
No cause for pesticide application.

Put some in a jar with soil and root and see what they become.