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Bacterial Leaf Spot Disease
Bacterial leaf spot disease produces small, dark irregular spots on tomato and pepper leaves as well as other crops. Leaves infected with bacterial leaf spot eventually turn yellow and drop off. Because bacterial leaf spot can cause the defoliation of a host plant developing fruits can suffer sunscald. Small, dark, wartlike raised spots with slightly […] More
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Late Blight Fungus Disease
Late blight is a fungus disease that can infect tomato and potato plants. The disease spreads rapidly and will likely destroy the infected plant in a few days. Wind- and water-borne fungal spores can quickly spread to other plants—including eggplants, and peppers. Late blight commonly strikes when nights are cool and moist and days are […] More
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in Diseases
Early Blight Fungus Disease
Early blight is a fungal disease that targets tomatoes in particular but also hits potatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Early blight can infect plants at almost any time during the growing season. It is most prevalent in regions where there is high humidity and when temperatures are greater than 75°F. Fungal spores carrying the disease are […] More
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in Diseases
Septoria Leaf Spot Fungus Disease
Septoria leaf spot is a fungal disease. It is one of the most destructive tomato plant diseases and affects a wide range of other vegetables and garden plants as well. Septoria fungal leaf spot is most severe in regions where warm, wet, humid weather extends over several days to weeks. Disease range: Throughout North America […] More
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in Guides
Rust Fungus Disease
Rust is a fungal disease that attacks many vegetable and fruit crops and ornamental plants as well. Rust fungal spores are commonly carried on moist winds until they land on plant leaves, stems, flowers, or fruits. The spore pustules multiply creating a rusty-colored coating of spores. The coating of spores can eventually cover leaves and […] More
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Garden Ants Organic Pest Control
Ants are an important component of the garden ecosystem. Ants are cleaners: they eat and help decompose organic matter in the soil, enriching the soil. Ants also eat pests insects such as fleas, fly larvae, and termites. Ants tunneling in the soil improve soil aeration which is helpful to plant roots. Ants become a garden […] More
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Beets and Swiss Chard Growing Problems: Troubleshooting
Beets grow best in cool weather. For best fresh eating, harvest beats when they are half grown–about six weeks after sowing. Beets will still be good eating when grown to full size. Thinning beets is important: thin first when roots begin to thicken–the tops will be young and tender and can be served fresh in […] More
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Common Vegetable Garden Problems: Cures and Controls
Sometimes there will be problems in the vegetable garden. There is always a cause and there is often a cure or control. Pest problems are often easy to spot: leaves or fruit look chewed or puckered from sucking pests. Diseases can be fungal, bacterial, or viral; often symptoms may look the same–brown or yellow spots […] More
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Damping Off Plant Disease
Damping off is the term gardeners use to describe the wilting and death of seedlings just before or just after they emerge from the soil. Damping off is caused by a fungus or mold that thrives in cool, wet soil conditions. Seedlings that suddenly collapse or fall over or bare spots in containers or in the […] More
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in Diseases
How to Identify Early Blight, Late Blight, and Leaf Spot on Tomatoes
Early blight, late blight, and leaf spot are common fungal diseases of tomato plants. Late blight is the most serious of the three. It spreads rapidly and will likely destroy the infected plant and can quickly spread to other plants—including potatoes, eggplants, and peppers. Here are basics for identifying these fungal diseases: Conditions for Disease […] More
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Broccoli Growing Problems: Troubleshooting
Broccoli is treated much as cabbage. Grow broccoli as rapidly as possible. Give broccoli plenty of moisture and be sure to feed it through the season–a planting bed amended with aged compost is an important start. While broccoli is hardy at maturity, young plants should not be subjected to frost. For broccoli growing tips see […] More
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Brussels Sprouts Growing Problems: Troubleshooting
Brussels sprouts are a fall vegetable; there is not enough cool spring weather in most regions to bring sprouts to harvest before summer. Brussels sprouts require about 3 months to reach harvest size. Sprouts–buds or heads that resemble miniature cabbage–form in the axils of leaves. Sprouts appear first at the bottom of the stalk and […] More
Stephen Albert
