Powdery mildew is caused by one of the most common and widely distributed fungi that plague gardens. The disease can attack a wide range of plants, as it is caused by several species of the order Erysiphales. A sampling of commonly affected plants includes: Cucumbers. Pumpkins. Squash. Melons. Grapes. Phlox. Peonies. Lilacs. Bluegrass. Fescue. TheContinue reading “Powdery Mildew”
Tag Archives: Fruit
Pierce’s Disease
Pierce’s disease (PD) is a bacterial disease of grapes named for Newton Pierce, who described the disease in 1892. The bacterium species is Xylella fastidiosa.
Brix: How Do We Measure It?
The reading displayed on the refractometer is actually not a true measurement of the sugar dissolved in the substance being tested.
Phytophthora Blight
Phytophthora blight, also known as late blight, is a fungal disease caused by several species of the genus Phytophthora. Affected plants include: Cucumbers. Squash. Pumpkins. Cantaloupe. Watermelons. Tomatoes. Eggplants. Peppers. Potatoes. Beans. The fungi involved flourish in wet, moderately warm weather. They spend the winter in infected tubers and plant matter. The disease is spreadContinue reading “Phytophthora Blight”
Brix: What is It?
Brix is one of those topics that come up fairly frequently in sustainable agriculture. Simply put, brix is a measure of the sugar content of a plant or other substance. To be more specific, Brix expresses the weight of dissolved sugar as a percentage of the weight of the entire solution. Pure water has aContinue reading “Brix: What is It?”
Peach Leaf Curl
Peach leaf curl is a common disease caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans. Besides peaches, susceptible plants include nectarines and almonds. The peach leaf curl fungus spends the winter in the bark and buds of its hosts. It enters new buds as they begin to swell and open in the spring, spread by rain andContinue reading “Peach Leaf Curl”
Growth Cracks
Fortunately, this problem is structural in nature, and therefore will not cause an epidemic.
Fusarium Wilt
Fusarium wilt is a disease common to the southeastern United States. It is caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum and affects numerous garden plants, including vegetables, small fruits, and flowers. The most susceptible host species include: Tomatoes. Sweet potatoes. Cucumbers. Watermelons. The disease is spread through infected soil. Once it is introduced, it is nearlyContinue reading “Fusarium Wilt”
Fire Blight
Fire blight, found across North America, is a disease to be reckoned with. Caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, this blight affects:
Downy Mildew
Downy mildew is quite common in humid climates, affecting most of the fruits, vegetables, flowers, and grasses that gardeners like to grow.
