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Garden Word of the Day
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Yellow spots on leaves may indicate Septoria leaf spot. This fungal disease is very destructive and it affects celery, chicory, cucumber, and other cucurbits, along with asters, carnations, chrysanthemums, verbena, and various trees and shrubs. Septoria leaf spot is one of the most destructive tomato diseases I know. Like other leaf spot diseases, Septoria reduces photosynthesis and the flow of important nutrients through the vascular bundles, leaving plants to wither and die. Warm, wet weather is all this fungi needs to set up housekeeping in your garden. And remember, that wetness can be caused by poorly placed sprinklers, leaky hoses, and overhead watering, just as easily as the weather. Temperatures between 60°F and 80°F are ideal for fungal growth. Knowing what to look for can help you protect your plants. Types of Septoria Septoria is a family of fungi. Different subspecies affect different plants. The most common types of Septoria, followed by their host plants and symptoms, include:
Symptoms are first seen in older leaves. The disease spreads upward into newer growth. As the spots spread, leaves turn yellow, die, and fall off. This leaf loss reduces plant vigor and increases the chance of fruit being damaged by sunburn. Severe infections can result in complete defoliation. Septoria leaf spot lifecycle
Septoria fungi travel on the wind and in rain, so it’s something you need to monitor for regularly. Spores come into contact with host plants and send out thready hyphae, which enter plants through cracks and injury sites. Spores overwinter in the soil and on infected plant debris. How to control Septoria leaf spot As with many other diseases, prevention is far easier than treating. These tips will help prevent Septoria leaf spot in your garden:
If Septoria leaf spot is seen, remove infected leaves right away and throw them in the trash. Also, sanitize any tools that may have come into contact with infected plants and avoid working around plants when they are wet.
3 Comments
Chuck Rasmussen
6/25/2019 06:53:07 am
Very helpful, thank you. What is potassium bicarbonate please and where do I get it? Thanks.
Reply
Kate Russell
6/25/2019 04:29:01 pm
Hi, Chuck!
Reply
Anna A.
5/28/2020 07:34:29 am
I'm so glad I found this, because it is exactly what my tomato plants have. I have bought potassium bicarbonate but am unsure of how to apply it. Does it go on the soil? Or as a spray? Are there any resources you can guide me to that have a formula for how to use this? Thank you! Leave a Reply. |
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