Fungus Problems in the Vegetable Garden

My vegetable garden did not perform well last summer. Some plants had powdery mildew and others were full of spots and blotches. Can I spray the soil with something to prevent the problem this coming season?

Applying fungicides to the soil is not the solution. Sanitation, rotation, and proper care are your best defenses against disease. Fall cleanup will help reduce the source of disease for following season. If you missed this opportunity, clean up and discard diseased plants in spring before preparing the soil. Try moving your plants around in the garden. Rotating crops like this moves the plants away from the greatest source of disease. Try trellising vines crops, towering or staking tomatoes, and providing sufficient space between plants. All these techniques increase air circulation and reduce disease problems.