Solarization

• 1). Break up all clumps and clods of soil with a soil tiller. Remove all sticks or rocks from the soil bed in which you will plant the tomatoes.
  
  
• 2). Water the soil so that it is moist, but not soaking wet.
  
  
• 3). Cover the soil area with a clear plastic tarp; bury the edges of the tarp so that it does not blow away or become obstructed. Leave the soil covered for four to six weeks, until you are ready to plant. The tarp will allow sunlight to heat the soil beneath, and will keep the heat in; high-temperature soil will kill nematodes.
  
  

Treat the soil

• 1). Mix ½ cup of regular white table sugar into 1 gallon of water in a bucket.
  
  
• 2). Stir thoroughly until the sugar is completely dissolved.
  
  
• 3). Pour directly into the soil that is affected by nematodes. The sugar will not harm the tomato plants, but can help to suffocate the nematodes.
  
  

Plant cover crops

• 1). Plant marigolds in between the tomato plants. Marigolds produce chemicals that attract nematodes and keep them off the tomato plants.
  
  
• 2). Space marigolds 6 to 7 inches apart from each other and from the tomato plants for best results.
  
  
• 3). Reverse the placement of the cover crop marigolds and the tomato plants each year for optimum soil usage.