Gardening with Rootknot nematodes can be challenging. After ten years on this infested property I’ve gotten used to recognizing the signs of an infected plant.

RKN exist in soil in areas with hot climates and mild, short winters, like NC. They are very prevalent in the sandy, former tobacco fields of the southeast US. About 2000 plants worldwide are susceptible to infection by rootknot nematodes and they cause approximately 5% of global crop loss.

Though some claim to have success suppressing nematodes by growing mustard greens, daikon radish, and marigolds I have not found those strategies to be very effective. (Though admittedly I still grow them all in hopes that they will help!)