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Fungus, Fungus Everywhere! #597828

Asked September 19, 2019, 10:33 AM EDT

It has been a wet year, and our garden is showing it. We have had fungal problems on many of our plants this year, including tomatoes, basil, peas, raspberries, and peonies. We used straw mulch this year, which I think may have exacerbated the problems. My question is, what can we do to make sure fungus doesn't come back to haunt our garden next year? We aim for organic/no-till. Thanks!

Ramsey County Minnesota

Expert Response

Please send pictures of the fungal problems so we can give you information on each disease. Cut down the infected plants later this fall and dispose of the infected plant material. Rotate your crops.
Pat M MN master gardener and TCA Replied September 19, 2019, 10:59 AM EDT
Peas seem like they have some kind of mildew, not sure what happened to peonies or peppers. We also have, I believe, raspberry leaf spot, tomato blight, and ripped out our basil because of downy mildew.
The Question Asker Replied September 19, 2019, 12:23 PM EDT
Raspberries/tomatoes
The Question Asker Replied September 19, 2019, 12:28 PM EDT

 

1.Powdery mildew is an unusual fungus that occurs in high humidity and low soil moisture. The following site has a list of disease resistant varieties.

http://vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu/main/showVarieties.php?searchCriteria=pea&searchIn=1&crop_id=0&sortBy=overallrating&order=DESC

 

2. http://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/annualperennial/peony/

 

3.Sunscald occurs when peppers are exposed to the direct rays of the sun during hot weather. It is more apparent on plants that have sparse foliage or those that may have previously lost a good deal of leaves to a leaf-defoliating disease.

 

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/environmental/sunscald/sunscald-of-tomato-and-peppers.aspx

4. Cultural measures that increase air circulation are probably the most effective way to control Raspberry leaf spot disease.  Since this fungus thrives under high humidity conditions, promoting faster drying of leaves and canes after rain can reduce the chances of infection.   The easiest tactic is to start off with properly spaced plants between and within rows, and in established plantings, avoid too many canes per plant. Also, reduce the sources of infection by pruning out old fruiting canes and removing them from the field. https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/raspberry-leaf-spot

 

5. Japanese Beetle  or Popillia japonica Adults beetles skeletonize leaves, i.e. chew tissue between veins, leaving foliage lace-like.Adults are a brilliant metallic green with copper-brown wing covers, five white patches of hairs on each side of the abdomen, and two patches of white hair on the tip of the abdomen.

6. Septoria Leaf Spot  or Septoria lycopersici. Pinch off leaves with leaf spot. Plant resistant tomato varieties.

http://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/vegetable/tomato/leavesspots.html

1.Powdery mildew is an unusual fungus that occurs in high humidity and low soil moisture. The following site has a list of disease resistant varieties.  http://vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu/main/showVarieties.php?searchCriteria=pea&searchIn=1&crop_id=0&sortBy=overallrating&order=DESC

 2. http://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/annualperennial/peony/

 3.Sunscald occurs when peppers are exposed to the direct rays of the sun during hot weather. It is more apparent on plants that have sparse foliage or those that may have previously lost a good deal of leaves to a leaf-defoliating disease.

 https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/environmental/sunscald/sunscald-of-tomato-and-peppers.aspx

4. Cultural measures that increase air circulation are probably the most effective way to control Raspberry leaf spot disease.  Since this fungus thrives under high humidity conditions, promoting faster drying of leaves and canes after rain can reduce the chances of infection.   The easiest tactic is to start off with properly spaced plants between and within rows, and in established plantings, avoid too many canes per plant. Also, reduce the sources of infection by pruning out old fruiting canes and removing them from the field. https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/raspberry-leaf-spot

 5. Japanese Beetle  or Popillia japonica. Adults skeletonize leaves, i.e. chew tissue between veins, leaving foliage lace-like. Adults are a brilliant metallic green with copper-brown wing covers, five white patches of hairs on each side of the abdomen, and two patches of white hair on the tip of the abdomen. Larvae are grubs that eat the roots of grass.

6. Septoria Leaf Spot  or Septoria lycopersici Pinch off leaves with leaf spot. Plant resistant tomato varieties.

http://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/vegetable/tomato/leavesspots.html

 

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Pat M MN master gardener and TCA Replied September 19, 2019, 1:55 PM EDT

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