Clubroot disease is a fungal disease that plagues brassicas like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, turnips, mustard, kale, kohlrabi, radishes, collard greens, and more. The fungus, Plasmodiophora brassicae, spreads in the soil, infecting the roots of plants and causing them to swell and develop an irregular shape that resembles galls…
Discover the top 10 reasons why tomato leaves curl and how to treat this common problem. Okra In My Garden
Why Disinfect Tools? Tools that have come into contact with diseased plants can transmit pathogens to other plants if not sanitized properly. Some may think that rinsing tools with water is enough to remove pathogens. But just as washing our hands with water does not remove bacteria, washing tools with…
What is Bacterial Wilt? Bacterial wilt is a plant disease that is caused by different kinds of bacteria: Erwinia tracheiphila, Enterobacteriaceae, Burkholderiaceae, or Ralstonia solanacearum. Once the bacterium infects a plant, it will multiply rapidly and clog the plant’s vascular system, making it impossible for water to be transported to plant tissue. …
Neem oil is derived from the neem tree, an evergreen shade tree that is indigenous to tropical India and South Asia. Although the oil can be extracted from all parts of the tree, the seed kernels contain the highest concentration. The usually yellow-brown oil has a pungent odor that some…
Bean rust is a fungal disease that attacks legumes, like black-eyed peas, purple hull peas, green beans, pole beans, fava beans, snow peas, snap peas, etc. The spores, which spread easily, can affect all parts of the plant, including the leaves, pods, stems, and shoots. Rust fungi have a complicated life…
Fungal diseases like black sooty mold, Cercospora leaf spot, Fusarium wilt, and Verticillium wilt can seemingly appear overnight, threatening the plants we have labored to care for. To successfully combat plant diseases such as these, it is important to identify them and treat them while they are still in the…
Downy mildew is a fungus-like pathogen that appears in gardens in the spring and fall when wet, cool conditions are present. Often confused with powdery mildew, which is a true fungus, downy mildew is a parasitic organism classified as an oomycete or a water mold. Not surprisingly, downy mold, as the condition is also known,…
If you have noticed a black or dark brown, powdery, soot-like mold covering primarily the upper surface of leaves and branches, chances are it's sooty mold. This fungal organism grows on the honeydew secretions of aphids, scale, whiteflies, leafhoppers, mealybugs, and psyllids. When fungal spores land on the sweet, sticky…
Cercospora leaf spot is a common fungal disease that affects a wide assortment of weeds, shrubs and plants, including flower and vegetable plants. In addition to leaves, the fungus can also affect other parts of the plant like stems, fruit, and seeds. Some of the crops that are more susceptible…