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
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
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
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
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
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
Houseplants are usually quick to adapt to their environment. When they don’t it’s usually because of extremes of light, temperature, and humidity. Even in the best home, houseplants can fall prey to natural enemies like insect pests and disease-causing fungi and bacteria. The quicker you recognize the distress, the quicker you can correct the problem. […] More
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
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 the basics for identifying these fungal diseases: Conditions for […] More
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that causes a white coating on leaves, stems, and flowers of plants. Powdery mildew attacks beans, peas, lettuce, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, squash and other plants including many annual and perennial flowers and shrubs. Powdery mildew fungal spores germinate on the dry surface of leaves when humidity is high and […] More
Stephen Albert