August Home-Garden

National Gardening Association Basic Disease Control

For a disease to take hold, three elements must be present: the disease agent itself (usually in the soil); a host crop which is susceptible to the disease; and the right weather conditions, especially appropriate temperature and humidity. If any one of these three elements is absent, there will be no problem. The odds are definitely in your favor.

You have some control over these three elements getting together in your garden. You can prevent diseases by rotating crops. Avoid planting crops of the same family in the same soil for three seasons, if possible. This should be enough time for most disease agents to die off. Plant disease resistant varieties.

Stagger the times you plant your vegetables. Put in seeds or young plants at several-day intervals and plant different varieties. They won't all be at the same stage of maturity this way, and if an insect or disease attacks, the chances are better that more of your crop will escape damage. This also stretches your harvest time.

Many diseases need wet conditions to spread, so water only when necessary to maintain a steady supply of moisture in the garden. Water early in the day, so the plants have a chance to dry off before evening. Also be careful not to handle plants, especially beans and vine crops, when they're wet.

Always get rid of badly diseased plants as soon as you spot signs of trouble; burn them or throw them out. Don't compost them or leave them in the garden to spread the disease further.

For a detailed list of insects and diseases in the home garden, the U.S. Department of Agriculture booklet Insects and Diseases of Vegetables in the Home Garden is helpful. You can get one by writing to Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. A faster way might be to call your local Extension Service to see if they have any on hand.

Copyright NGA

Reprinted with permission HouseNet, Inc.

Back to Home Improvement Preview Lawn And Garden Preview Home Decorating Shopping Center