Pests & Diseases

Pests & Diseases

This page holds all my blog entries that fall into the general category of 'Pests & Diseases'. You will find an article and a video attached to each link posted below or you can just watch the video. These links only take you to blog articles I wrote for this blog unless noted. Enjoy!

Identifying the Tomato Hornworm & Inspecting Your Garden for Pests and Diseases

It is important to get out in the garden several times during the week. As you water, feed, pick and tend the garden... look for clues. Check all the vegetables leaves. You will eventually find leaf damage that might signal the 'Tomato Hornworm' or 'Cabbage Loopers' have hatched and are maturing nicely by eating your vegetable plants. You may see spots on leaves that could be an early sign of 'Leaf Spot' or 'Early Blight.'

Identifying Tomato 'Sunscald', Fruit Cracking & Fungi: Inspect Your Plants!
It is important to recognize the problems that can occur in your vegetable garden. This video will show you what tomato 'sunscald' looks like, explain why tomatoes can crack and show you examples of potential fungi your tomato plants can get on their leaves.

Using Garden sprayers and How to Spray Tomato Leaves: Get the Undersides!
Depending on the size of your garden you can get 1 or 2 gallon tanks. You also want to purchase 2 tanks. One tank will be used for nontoxic sprays. The other tank would be used for more toxic sprays. Even organic products can be toxic, like copper based fungicides. And remember to never spray in full sun. It is best to spray in the morning so the spray has time to dry before the sun's intensity increases.

What is that Powdery Stuff on My Plant Leaves?: Powdery Mildew!
Powdery mildew is very common in my garden zone, Maryland Zone 7. I get it every year and have learned to spray preventatively and regularly to either beat it or slow it down. It starts out as little white dots on the underside and topside of leaves. You have to make sure you spray the tops and bottoms of leaves to effectively control it.

For New Gardeners: How to Make a Baking Soda Anti-Fungal Garden Spray

This is one spray that can be used as an anti-fungal and it can be modified in many ways. I just wanted to show you the basic recipe. You can modify it as you wish. If you are like me you have a bit of mad professor in you and different things can be added to it.

For New Gardeners: How to Make Soapy Spray for Soft Bodied Garden Insects

Soft bodied insects are just that... soft bodies. That don't have a tough skin so to speak. The soapy water spray essentially dehydrates them by disrupting their systems. The video explains the basic recipe I use. I find you don't need 4 or 5 tablespoons of dish soap as many recipes suggest. I always recommend starting with less and add more later. You can also add different things to your mix if you wish. That is up to you.