Sometimes seedlings grown at home are subject to various diseases. Even with strict observance of the rules of agricultural technology, one hundred percent protection is not guaranteed. Diseases slow down the development of sprouts, and can also lead to their death. How to deal with major diseases, I will tell you further.
Blackleg
This is a fungal infection that spreads through contaminated soil. Seedlings are affected by excessive watering and high air temperature. At first, the stem of the plant darkens, becomes thin and twisted. In the place where the development of the infection began, a constriction is formed.
If young plants become ill at an early stage of development, they first turn yellow and then begin to rot. Older seedlings do not rot, but dry out. They do not die, but develop much more slowly, take root poorly, and later bear fruit worse.
Plants will not be able to cure the black leg. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent its occurrence. I use the following preventive measures:
- before starting sowing, be sure to disinfect the soil;
- I try to provide optimal humidity and temperature for seedlings;
- when planting, I observe the required distance between the seeds in order to prevent thickening of the plantings;
- regularly perform loosening;
- I ventilate the room where the seedlings are located;
- after moistening the substrate, I sprinkle it with dry sand;
- I immediately remove plants with signs of disease along with a clod of earth and seedlings that grew nearby.
root rot
The disease caused by the fungus usually develops with excess moisture and excessive feeding. It also occurs when watering with hot or cold water.
The disease manifests itself as follows:
- a brown coating forms on the root neck;
- leaves turn pale;
- the stem is thinning.
Plants affected by root rot die quickly. Therefore, it is important to protect healthy seedlings. To do this, I immediately remove the sick, after which I sprinkle the substrate with humus, sand or chalk and treat it with fungicides that contain copper.
Gray rot
It appears as light brown spots both on the stems of plants and on the leaves. Infection occurs during stagnant water. The spots become wet, covered with a pinkish fluff.
I start treatment right away. To do this, I spend 4 treatments with an interval of 10 days. Preparations must contain copper. A weak solution of manganese is also suitable.
If you do not have specialized tools, you can cook garlic infusion. To do this, grind 30 g of cloves, pour 5 liters of water and let it brew for 2 days.
powdery mildew
The disease is manifested by white bloom on the leaves. Over time, it acquires a denser structure. After a while, the stem and leaves begin to deform. Then the leaves dry up and fall off.
I treat diseased plants with Fitosporin-M or with a 0.5% solution of soda ash. I do this every week for a month.
Fusarium
This disease is very insidious, as it is able to "calm down" in the soil for a long time. In addition, Fusarium can begin to develop due to infected seeds.
When infected, the roots are the first to suffer. Plants become pale, begin to wither, and then dry out. Gradually, the root neck is also damaged.
When a disease is detected, all affected seedlings are removed along with the substrate. I treat healthy plants with Fitosporin-M or similar fungicides.
Dry rot
Seedling disease is usually caused by infected seeds. Dry rot is manifested by light, indefinitely shaped spots on which black dots can be seen. Spots cover leaves, stems, cotyledons. The stems dry out, and the seedlings gradually die.
I immediately remove the affected specimens, trying to capture more soil.
Growing seedlings every year, I came to the conclusion that it is better to spend time on preventive measures, that is, to carry out pre-sowing disinfection of seeds, substrate and containers, than to lose part or all of their seedlings.
It is also necessary to adhere to the rules of agricultural technology and check plantings more often. This will help protect young plants and take timely action.
How often do your seedlings get sick? And what measures are you taking? Share your experience in the comments.
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