Preventing Problems in the Vegetable Garden

Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That statement definitely rings true in the garden.  There are lots of simple things you can do this growing season to prevent insect and disease problems on your vegetables. 

This year when you buy seeds or transplants, make sure to buy disease resistant varieties whenever possible.  Also, inspect the transplants for any warning signs.   Check over them for insects.   Look under the leaves and in the axils- the area where the leaves connect to the stems.  Reject any transplants that look sickly or have any spots on the leaves.  Leaf spots are generally an indication of a fungal disease problem. 

When you lay out the garden, be sure to practice crop rotation.  Rotating crops is one of the best and easiest disease prevention strategies we have.  Many diseases are specific to a particular family of plants, so when you rotate between the families, the cycle of disease can be broken.  Dividing your garden into four sections and rotating the crop families to a different one each year for four years is an easy way to do it.  Common families include the legumes (peas and beans), the cucurbits (squash, pumpkins, muskmelon, watermelon, watermelon, and cucumber), the crucifers (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, collards, turnips, mustards, and radish), and the night shades (potatoes, peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes).

Consider mulching your vegetables this year.  If mulch is good for you landscape plants, it will be good for your vegetables too.  Mulch prevents weeds, water loss, and the spread of diseases from splashing water.  You can use any organic mulch you want such as leaves, straw and grass clippings.  Just apply a 2-3” deep layer on top of the soil surface. 

For continuing protection through the summer, remove struggling plants.  Don’t try to nurse an ailing tomato plant along.  Struggling plants are an open invitation for diseases and insects.  It is better to pull up one plant than to risk inoculating the whole lot. 

Why not try one of these strategies?  It could save you time and money in the long run.  May you have a  bountiful harvest this year!