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diseases plaguing flowers, fruits, and veggies #891540
Asked January 13, 2025, 4:19 PM EST
For the past 2 years something has been plaguing our backyard garden. We have grown a number of veggies, fruits, and flowers in both pots and a raised bed, and they all seem to succumb to a disease. I have tried treating it with a fungicide and neem oil, but neither seems to help.
Last summer, we grew grapes. They were in containers growing up trellises. They were full and leafy and produced beautiful bunches. Then the bunches started shriveling up (despite treatment). Our red raspberry plant developed spots. Our cucumbers took off, climbing up the trellis and produced a few cucs, but eventually succumbed to disease.
In our raised bed, our daylilies, crocosmias, and gladiolas were doing beautifully, and then they followed suit, ending up spots and eventually wilting.
It has even shown up on our green onions and in the pot of herbs.
I want to rid our garden of this disease for good so I can stop throwing money away on our garden. Will you please 1) help identify the issue, 2) let me know what is the best course of action to take? 3) There was a wooden raised bed here when we moved in - does that need to be removed to eradicate whatever disease this is?
I have tried attaching pictures, but they will not upload on either Chrome or Safari. Please advise how I can send them to you.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Connell
Greenville County South Carolina
Expert Response
Hello Rebecca.
I was not assigned this question but have a few comments. First, Pictures are worth a 1K words. Clear images really help. I know you have issues with uploading photos but if you can figure it out, will be instrumental.
Secondly, based on your description....multiple years....that this is either carryover or a disease that occurs based on a weather occurrence (like Downy Mildew). Spores are deposited when temperatures are conducive to environmental outbreak.
You mentioned Fungicide...Assuming it is a fungus as the pathogen....and probably right...fungicides are preventative only....meaning you have to apply before the outbreak to prevent damage...otherwise....it prevents other tissue from damage...
You could have a soil borne pathogen. I'd recommend you take whole plant including soil to your extension agent to send to their plants, pest, and pathogen lab for analysis. This will rule out soil borne pathogens.
When last did you soil sample? Nematodes are a possibility.
