Plant Pests and Diseases

Controlling pests and diseases can be very time consuming, and in some instances, futile. That is why, you need to take action and protect your vegetables from infections and garden pests even before they strike.

Preventing Pest and Disease Infestation

Pests can be very damaging to your vegetable garden. If you’ve ever woken up one morning to find that a seemingly healthy plant had keeled over and died during the night, you are not alone. These events, however, are preventable. With the use of the right plant varieties, as well as the application of barriers, scares, and natural treatments, you can be successful in warding off pests from your garden. As for diseases, once they have set in, they can be very difficult to control. Without immediate care, you can loose your entire crop or you can end up with vegetables and fruits that’s below par. You can avoid the devastation caused by diseased fruits through preventive methods.

Problem-Free Vegetables

One of the easiest ways to prevent pest infestation is to plant problem-free vegetables. Many vegetables are less susceptible to pests and diseases. These include asparagus, artichoke, Jerusalem artichoke, beets, carrots, celery, celeriac, horseradish, dandelion, cucumbers, okra, peas, radishes, salsify, parsnips, onions, and leeks.

When you can, choose seedlings and seeds that have been certified disease resistant or disease free. These seeds are usually pre-treated with fungicide to help prevent future infections. These kinds of seeds may be more expensive than the regular ones, but they will save you a lot of grief, especially if your garden has a history of bacterial or fungal infection. On the other hand, there are those vegetables that are very susceptible to pest infestation. These include the vegetables in the cabbage family. This doesn’t mean that you should avoid planting them altogether, just be more vigilant when it comes to pest and disease prevention.

Companion Planting

If you’ve read your own share of gardening web sites or blogs, you’ve probably heard of companion planting. In a way, it’s similar to my previous suggestion of using disease-resistant crop, but with an additional twist. The idea behind companion planting is that there are crops that are helpful to one another, so you should plant them together. Here is an example: chives, onions, and other alliums repel cabbage worms. If you plant these alliums near cabbages, this prevents the cabbage worms from thriving. Another example is rosemary which you should plant next to beans because they repel the bugs that are attracted to beans. To successfully practice companion planting, a lot of research is needed beforehand. In my experience, this research pays off. There’s only so much I can cover in this chapter when it comes to companion planting. The good news is that there’s a very detailed book on the subject, which is a valuable addition to my own library. I highly recommend “Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening” by Louise Riotte.

Physical Barriers

The application of physical barriers is another way of preventing pest infestation. You can prevent slug and snail attacks by laying down a barrier of scratchy sand or cinder blocks. The removal of potential hiding places will also help prevent their infestation. Slugs and snails can be very devastating to your vegetables as they can eat large quantities in a short time.

To control pests such as cutworms, you can place a collar made from a cardboard or Styrofoam cup with the bottom removed. Place the collar when you transplant. It should be set at least one inch below the soil. There should also be a space of at least 1 ½ to three inches around the plant.

Aside from cutworms, collars may also be used to control other worm types that access the vegetables by burrowing underground. If you have a problem with root maggots, shields made of either plastic or paper are effective against them. Lay down a sheet with a width of at least three to four inches around the base of the plant. To maintain effectiveness, keep the shield above ground.

Pesticides

Aside from the non-chemical options mentioned above. You can also prevent pest infestations with the use of certain pesticides. Although they can be effective, I tend to avoid chemical pesticides. Some of them are easily misused and can harm the plant, other animals, and humans. When it comes to prevention, it is much better to stick with non-chemical and physical barriers. You should only start using chemicals when you notice the first signs of pest infestation.

Control Moisture

Moisture control is one of the most effective ways of disease prevention. High moisture content in the soil or in the foliage makes it easier for diseases to develop. Avoid the combination of cold weather, shade, wet plants, and heavily moistened soil. Make sure that your soil drains well and that your plants get sunlight.

Also, space your plants well so that air can pass between them and help dry off moisture accumulated from watering and dew. As I’ve mentioned earlier, it is also important to refrain from overhead watering. Direct the water to the soil instead of to the leaves.

Crop Rotation

Crop rotation is a tried and tested method of disease prevention. Do not plant the same crop in the same area year after year. This gives diseases a chance to strengthen and develop resistance to future treatment.

Hygiene

It is also important to remember that you yourself can infect your plants. Wash your hands before working on the garden. This is especially true for smokers who work with plants such as eggplants and tomatoes. A virus called the tobacco mosaic virus can infect the plants and cause them to die.

Hand washing should also be practiced when moving from one plant group to another or from plant bed to plant bed. Hygiene also applies to your surroundings. Clean your tools as often as you can and keep them as dry as possible.

If you have a gardening shed where you propagate seedlings, make sure that it is well lit and ventilated. Avoid storing open containers that may hold water. These can attract flies, rodents, birds, and mosquitoes that will not only be danger to your plants, but to your health as well.