Michael Womack
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Saturday, August 28, 1999

Do not let pests destroy dream garden

Think about prevention when you plan your garden

 

Fall gardening fever is starting to strike. Everyone is getting ready to plan and plant what we hope to be a successful garden with bountiful harvest up through the Christmas holidays. Unfortunately, insects and diseases can wake us from our garden dreams. Insects and disease are without a doubt the greatest obstacle to a successful, productive vegetable garden in Texas. Every year, millions of dollars are lost statewide in backyard and commercial vegetable production due to destructive feeding of insects and the rot or decay diseases cause. The first line of defense for many gardeners is to stock up on chemical insecticides and fungicides. Controlling pests with pesticides may be necessary at times, but there are measures you can take to reduce your risk of disease and insect problems. Prevention should always be your first line of defense. Prevention is really nothing more than common sense and sound, sensible gardening practices. Through continuous and methodical use of the following practices, many insect and disease problems can be greatly reduced or eliminated.
   Smart purchasing:
   When purchasing seed or transplants, make sure that you don't take problems home with you. Buy only seeds that have been packaged for the current garden season and that have been treated with fungicides to prevent seed rot and/or seedling disease. Select only strong, healthy transplants with vivid leaf color. Avoid plants with holes in the leaves or brown spots or lesions on the stems or foliage; these signs could indicate the presence of insects or diseases.
   Use resistant varieties:
   Always buy disease-resistant varieties and those recommended for our area. Plant breeders have made tremendous strides in developing high-yield, top-quality varieties that are resistant to common diseases. Unfortunately, we don't have insect-resistant varieties. The Nueces County Extension Office (767-5217) has vegetable variety lists to help you make an informed decision; nursery professionals can also help you pick good varieties for our area. Also look at the tags in transplants and purchase those with letters like VFN that represent disease resistance.
   Proper soil preparation:
   Good soil preparation will provide the necessary environment for good root growth and plant establishment. Working in liberal amounts of organic matter will improve drainage.
   Adequate fertilization:
   Test your garden soil to determine pH and proper fertilizer application rates. Highly acidic or highly alkaline soils will tie up nutrients. Also, high concentrations of phosphorus can limit availability of micronutrients like iron so avoid excessive applications of superphosphate to heavy clay soil. The right amount of nutrients in the soil will result in strong, vigorous plants that are less susceptible to insects and diseases.
   Crop rotation:
   If your garden has enough space, avoid planting the same vegetables or members of the same vegetable family in the same location for at least 2-3 years. Rotating crops will cause populations of many soil-borne insects and diseases to diminish and prevent future disease problems.
   Proper spacing:
   Proper spacing is the most overlooked problem that can result in significant problems later. In this case, less plants may mean more produce later. Plants need a certain amount of space for strong growth. Pay close attention to guidelines regarding spacing between rows and between plants within each row. Crowding plants reduces air circulation, slows drying, and encourages disease development and insect infestation. Crowded growing conditions can also make pesticide spray application difficult resulting in poor coverage and limited success.
   Vertical gardening:
   Grow plants upright whenever possible, using cages, trellises, fences and other types of props. These practices will prevent fruit from contacting the soil resulting in fewer losses due to soil-borne pests. They will also increase air circulation and allow for more successful pesticide application.
   Garden sanitation:
   Keep your garden clean to prevent disease and insect problems. During the growing season, remove any odd-looking, stunted or sickly plants and weeds as soon as possible. Such plants are rarely productive and may very well be infected with viruses, other diseases, or insects that will likely infect healthy plants in your garden
   Hopefully these tips will help you plan for a successful fall garden that is fulfills your gardening dreams.
  
  

1999 Caller-Times Publishing Company, a Scripps Howard newspaper. All rights reserved.