Nemasys Grow Your Own nematodes.

[Marb67]

I ordered these nematodes because they claim it has different ones in one pack to attack

Saw Fly,carrot fly,onion fly, cabbage root fly, ants (I don't have problem with ants), thrips (they destroy a lot of my veg, especially broad beans every year) , caterpillars

I have never used these before except for slugs and am confused. The pack says to apply for sawfly, thrip etc spray over the leaves when the fly is around. And do it at regular intervals. It says for other pests water into the ground. It also says made up solution cannot be stored.

So I have a pack just arrived that expires in beginning of June and I have no idea if I should spray or pour because my broad beans are only just in and about 3 inches high. Thrip damage happens around June/July. Sawfly tens to come later too.

I would have thought nematodes had to go into soil and not be sprayed because wouldnt the sawfly and thrip lave be in the soil ?

Any advice from someone more experienced would be much appreciated. It says you have to keep applying every 2 weeks which would be very costly for me as these things are not cheap. Thrip damage is awful in my garden and this happens to my B Beans

http://topveg.com/wp-content/uploads...damage-sev.jpg

[Penellype]

I've not used these but looking at the life cycle of thrips (see eg Wikipedia), the whole thing takes place on the plant, not in the soil. They seem rather similar to aphids in that they do not need to mate to reproduce. I would therefore think that the best thing to do with your nematodes is to give the bean plants a good soaking from top to bottom. I'd keep them in the fridge for a couple of weeks and apply them nearer to the beginning of June.

[Marb67]

Ok thanks Penellype. Horrible things thrips.