Gardening brings much satisfaction, providing good food for our families. It can be discouraging when plants get sick, especially when the weather makes it worse. Here are some ways we can help our plants stay healthy and produce well:

Choosing Wisely What to Plant

It's important to think about what you plant in your garden. If certain diseases affected your plants last year, it's often best not to plant the same ones, or ones related to them, in the same spot. This is called crop rotation. This means planting a different kind of crop in that area. This is because some of the things that make plants sick can live in the ground for several years. If these diseases are in the soil, planting the same plants there again can cause diseases and make the problem worse. For example, some soilborne diseases that affect tomatoes can stay in the soil for as long as 3 years and on stakes and tools for many months. So, it's good to plant something different like corn or beans in that spot for at least 3 years. Tomatoes are also related to potatoes, peppers, and eggplants, so it's often wise to avoid planting those in the same area too.

Pathogen-free Seed and Transplants

Pathogen that resides in the soil is hard to get rid of. Controlling diseases that are both soil borne and seed borne is extremely difficult. Therefore, gardeners should avoid saving seeds of the plants that had disease history from the previous years. It's wise to use good quality seeds, perhaps from a trusted source, or seeds that are known to be healthy. Transplants need to be purchased from reliable nurseries and examined thoroughly before planting.

Choosing Resistant Varieties

Among all the disease management strategies, the use of resistant varieties is considered the most effective and efficient. Yes, why not solve all the problems in the beginning? When purchasing resistant varieties through the garden shop, gardeners should read labels to see what disease resistance is listed and corresponding level of resistance.

Finding the Right Place to Plant

Choosing the right spot for your garden is very important for healthy plants. A place where water drains well and that gets plenty of sunshine is best. Too much wetness can cause roots to rot, and shady spots can encourage disease on the leaves. If you're using a garden spot from last year, be sure to clear away all the old plants and roots, as these can hold onto things that make plants sick.

Figure 1 Vegetable Raised Garden Beds. Photo: Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture

Planting at the Right Time

Even though the weather may start to feel warmer in April and May, it's important to be patient. Young plants can be harmed by frost or cold weather. Also, cold ground can hurt the roots and make them more likely to get sick. It's best to be patient and plant according to the right time for each kind of plant and pay attention to the weather forecast.

Giving Plants Enough Space

We all like a full garden, and it's good to share what we grow. But if plants are too close together as they grow, it can stop the air from moving around them well, which can lead to sickness. So, giving plants enough space and using things like stakes or supports can help keep the leaves off the ground and let the air flow better. Also, using mulch helps to keep weeds down and the soil moist.

Watering and Feeding Your Plants

We all know plants need water, but too much water can make them look like they're not getting enough. This is because the roots need air too. Too much water can weaken the plants and lead to problems like rotting seeds or young plants dying. When you water, try not to splash water onto the leaves, as this can spread pathogens. If you do need to water the leaves, it's best to do it in the morning so they have time to dry during the day. Besides water, plants also need good nourishment. Feeding them properly helps them stay strong and fight off sickness. You can also have your soil tested to see what it needs to help your plants grow well.

Keeping the Weeds Down

Weeds not only take away from your plants, but they can also bring pathogens and bugs. Besides using mulch, it's important to keep an eye out for weeds and pull them out. Keeping weeds down helps air move around the plants better and prevents too much wetness.

Dealing with Bugs

Dealing with bugs is like dealing with plant diseases. It helps to check your plants regularly for common garden bugs, so you can take care of them early before they cause too much trouble. Turning the soil in the spring can help get rid of some bugs that live in the ground.

Take home message

Just like people get sick easier when they are under stress, healthy plants are better able to fight off diseases and bugs. So, taking good care of your plants from the start, using good seeds, and choosing resistant varieties are very important for a healthy garden and a good harvest for your family.

If you are interested in submitting a plant sample to MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic to identify the disease problem, please drop it off to your local extension office or mail it to the following address:

MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic
1100 University Avenue, Mumford Hall Room 28
Columbia, MO 65211

We are happy to announce that the clinic is currently collaborating with North Central IPM center to offer FREE diagnostic services to all Missouri Amish and Mennonite clients in 2025.