The summer garden experience wouldn’t be complete without battling a few insects and diseases. There’s little that’s more frustrating than watching garden plants succumb to disease or insects.
First and foremost, gardeners should invest in a good reference book about garden pests and diseases. The American Horticulture Society Pests and Diseases: The Complete Guide to Preventing, Identifying and Treating Plant Problems is one such reference book.
Color photographs in any pest and disease reference book will help in the identification of specific insects and plant problems. The University Extension office can also provide assistance to gardeners if an insect or a plant problem is not identifiable.
The least toxic method of insect control should be the first form of defense in the garden. Small insects can be blown off a plant with a strong stream of water from a hose. Many bugs can be picked by hand and squashed. Gardeners should also look for eggs laid on garden plants, which should be scraped off to prevent future bug infestations.
Plant diseases are less common in the vegetable garden, but they can also wipe out an entire group of plants if left unchecked. Plants affected by disease should be removed and destroyed as soon as disease is identified.
A simple way to head off insect destruction and disease in the vegetable garden is to visit your garden daily or as often as possible. Picking a tomato horn-worm off a plant after it’s eaten a few leaves rather than half a plant and a few tomatoes is just one way the gardener can catch a simple problem before it gets too big.
Fertilize and water your plants when needed. A healthy and vigorous plant is less susceptible to disease and will bounce back from insect injury more quickly.
If you seem to have problems with a particular variety of plant, try planting a new variety in the upcoming year. Even better — look for a variety of the species that is bred to resist disease for planting in the veggie bed next year.
Occasionally it’s necessary to use an insecticide when plants are ravaged by insects that are uncontrollable by natural means. It’s important to remember that using insecticides in the garden will affect both beneficial and bad insects. Use insecticides sparingly.
Crop rotation can also benefit plants by breaking disease and insect cycles. Grow plants susceptible to insects or disease in a new location for a few years. Cultivate a new plot of ground for the problem plant to grow in.
Questions or comments related to gardening? Contact Joleen at missourigardener@hotmail.com.