Vegetable Garden Problem Solving

 Here is a list of the common vegetable problems in this area.

First listed is what you see, in red is the likely cause, followed by what we recommend.

Common Insect Problems

Tiny holes: Flea Beetles: Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

New seedlings disappearing: slugs or earwigs: DE, Sluggo Plus

Holes on cabbage/broccoli/B sprouts: cabbage lopper: Spinosad or Bt

New plants cut at base: cut worm: Sluggo Plus, DE, dig and smash

Holes on potato foliage: Colorado potato beetle: Spinosad, crush

Tomato foliage disappearing: horn worm: find and smash, Spinosad

Common Animal Problems

Tops of plants eaten off: deer: fence

Leaves disappearing lower down: rabbits: fence

Plant disappearing completely: woodchucks: fence, repellants, smoke bomb den

Using garden for “their business”: cats: cover soil with chicken wire

Common Disease Problems

Spots on leaves: leaf spot fungus: Organic fungicides – come into the store for recommendations.

Gray mold on leaves: powdery mildew: Organic fungicides – come into the store for recommendations.

Yellow leaves/spots tomato foliage: early blight: Copper fungicide and other organic fungicide.

Common Cultural Problems

Curled foliage: water/wind/heat stress: water deeply less often

Browned edges on leaves: fertilizer burn: water well before fertilizing, use organic fertilizers

Older leaves yellow and turning brown: drying: water deeply less often

Whole plant yellow: too much water: water deeply less often

Whole plant yellow: lack of nitrogen: fertilize with fish/seaweed

Plant dies after spraying: sunburn: some products make plants sun sensitive – read the label, don’t spray any product on on hot, sunny day.

See our Resources/informational handouts page of this website for more problem solving materials.