COMMON PLANT DISEASES
Diseases hitting your herbal garden isn’t likely, but in the event you’re faced with an outbreak, we’ll go over how to identify and treat the issue. However, prevention is much easier than treatment. Maintaining a healthy garden from the onset is going to make your growing season less of a headache.
TIPS ON GROWING A HEALTHY GARDEN:
Make sure there is good drainage for the soil in your planters. Good soil drainage can help prevent diseases that come from the soil. Finding mushrooms is a sign there is a lot of moisture and humidity your garden.
Weeding you garden can help it from overcrowding and containing too much humidty.
Read spacing instructions of seed packets to ensure there is enough space between plants to help moisture and humidity escape.
Planting each herb in the right light and soil conditions can also help prevent disease outbreaks.
Leaf Spot
PLANTS AFFECTED: Lavender, Violets, Nasturtiums
MANAGEMENT: You’ll need to remove spotted leaves quickly and destroy them away from your garden. Be sure to wash all garden tools and your hands after handling the leaves. Space your plants per instructions for prevention.
Downy Mildew
PLANTS AFFECTED: Tarragon, Calendula, Violets, Cilantro
MANAGEMENT: You’ll need to remove the infected leaves quickly and destroy them. Clean your garden beds in autumn for prevention. Compost tea sprays may help.
Bacterial Wilt
PLANTS AFFECTED: Sage, Nasturtiums, Scented Geraniums
MANAGEMENT: Prune infected branches. If the disease continues to return, you will need to destroy the whole plant. Do not plant your herbs where tomato plants have grown within 2-3 years for prevention.
Rust
PLANTS AFFECTED: Yarrow, Bee Balm, Mints
MANAGEMENT: Remove and destroy all of the leaves that are infected quickly. In order to prevent rust, make sure there is good drainage in your soil to reduce humidity. Reduce using fertilizers with nitrogen.
Root Rot
PLANTS AFFECTED: Sage, Oregano, Winter Savory, Lavender, Rosemary, Tarragon, Thyme
MANAGEMENT: Plant will need to be removed and destroyed. Root rot often occurs from overwatering. Make sure there is proper drainage in your soil and reduce humidity.
Damping Off
PLANTS AFFECTED: Majority of Seedlings
MANAGEMENT: Reduce the moisture and humidity around the plants. You may need to increase air circulation to help reduce the moisture. Do not overwater seedlings.
Crown Rot
PLANTS AFFECTED: Violets, Angelica, Parsley
MANAGEMENT: Reduce the amount of watering. If your plant dies, you’ll need to remove the whole plant and surrounding soil.
Verticillium Wilt
PLANTS AFFECTED: Nasturtiums, Sage, Cilantro, Mints
MANAGEMENT: Make sure you transplant your young plants from indoors/green house outdoors when it is warm. Do not transplant too early in the season. Rotate your annual plantings year after year.
Stem Rot
PLANTS AFFECTED: Yarrow
MANAGEMENT: Usually occurs from overwatering. Make sure soil has plenty of drainage and reduce humidity. You can help reduce humidity by pushing mulch away from base of plants.
Anthracnose
PLANTS AFFECTED: Mints
MANAGEMENT: If the whole plant is infected, remove from garden and destroy. Do not add a replacement plant in it’s location without changing soil. Thin overly crowded plants for prevention. Water your plants in the morning.
Botrytis Blight
PLANTS AFFECTED: Scented Geraniums, Rosemary
MANAGEMENT: Any diseases blossoms need to be removed and destroyed quickly. Proper soil drainage and reduced humidity can assist with prevention.
Fusarium Wilt
PLANTS AFFECTED: Basil
MANAGEMENT: As soon as you notice a single leaf with this disease, you will need to remove and destroy the whole plant quickly. Prevention can be done by purchasing certified disease-free seeds.
Powdery Mildew
PLANTS AFFECTED: Tarragon, Yarrow, Calendula, Cilantro, Bee Balm, Lemon Balm
MANAGEMENT: This often occurs with plants without enough circulation. Thin overly crowded plants. Spray with a mixture of superior oil and baking soda on the plant as soon as you notice the disease.
