Author Archives: ThePlantLady

About ThePlantLady

ThePlantLady.com is a library of gardening information compiled from many resources, including written texts, online databases, current research, and first-hand experience from farmers and gardeners. It includes growing requirements specific to each plant, as well as varietal information. My background in microbiology and chemistry allows me to tap into the scientific research being done today and digest it for the use of the home gardener or small farmer.

Bordeaux Mix

Wettable powder combination of copper sulfate and hydrated lime. The powder may be dusted on the plant dry or mixed with water and sprayed on. It’s classified as a fungicide with insecticidal and insect repellant properties. Controls: Anthracnose bacterial leaf spots bacterial wilts black spot fire blight peach leaf curl powdery mildew rust Precautions read […]

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew on Lavender Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that effects many types of plants, and is fairly easy to manage. It causes poor growth and lower yields, but seldom kills the plant. There are many different species of powdery mildew that cause the disease on many different species of plants. See list of species and their […]

Phytophthora Blight

Quick Intro Physical Description Soil borne fungal disease that affects foliage and fruits. Species & Taxonomy Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus Species: Lifecycle   Plants Affected   Plants Unaffected   Geographical Range   Signs & Symptoms Whole Plant Leaves Flowers Fruit on peppers: spots form on the pepper with white mold present Roots/Tubers How […]

Tobacco Mosaic Virus

Quick Intro Species & Taxonomy Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus Species: Lifecycle   Plants Affected   Plants Unaffected   Geographical Range   Signs & Symptoms Whole Plant stunted plants twisted growth Leaves yellow mottling of leaves Flowers Fruit Roots/Tubers How to Positively Identify Treatment Prevention & Control   Cultural Controls: Habitat: Temperature & Humidity: […]

Fungal Foot Rot

Physical Description Fungal foot rot causes the plant to wilt; if the roots are wet & brown, then it’s probably root rot (VGPS) Species & Taxonomy Kingdom: Chromalveolata Phylum: Heterokontophyta Class: Oomycetes Order: Peronosporales Family: Pythiaceae Genus Species: Phytophthora Plants Affected   Plants Unaffected   Geographical Range   Signs & Symptoms Whole Plant generalized wilting Leaves Flowers Fruit Roots wet & […]

Early Blight

Also known as Alternaria Blight. Physical Description Early blight begins as light-colored spots on leaves, eventually leading to the leaves dying and falling off. Google Images Species & Taxonomy Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus Species: Alternaria solani Lifecycle   Plants Affected tomatoes potatoes peppers (not a serious problem in peppers, but if it appears, […]

Cercospora Leaf Spot

Leaf spot caused by a fungal disease that infects many vegetable crops.  Physical Description Spots tend to have dark edges, as symptoms progress, centers may drop out of the spots leaving a shothole effect. Species & Taxonomy Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus Species: Lifecycle   Plants Affected   Plants Unaffected   Geographical Range   […]

Blossom End Rot

Blossom end rot in San Marzano paste tomatoes

Google Images of Blossom End Rot Physical Description Brown or tan spots on the blossom end of tomatoes or on the underside of peppers. Blossom end rot results from calcium availability problems when the fruit is forming. Calcium availability is affected by irrigation levels (both too much water, and too little water), as well as […]

Bacterial Wilt (Cucurbits)

Quick Intro Physical Description   Species & Taxonomy Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus Species: Erwinia tracheiphila (only in cucurbits) Lifecycle   Plants Affected Cucumbers Squash Zucchini Melons (not watermelons, though) Plants Unaffected   Geographical Range   Signs & Symptoms Whole Plant Leaves Flowers   Fruit Roots/Tubers How to Positively Identify   Treatment Prevention & Control […]

Bacterial Wilt (Nightshades)

Sudden wilting is caused by various reasons, Bacterial Wilt being one of them. Bacterial wilt is caused by different pathogens, depending on whether you are dealing with nightshades (pepper, tomato, potato, eggplant, tomatillos) or cucurbits (cucumber, melons, squash). In tobacco, it is known as Granville Wilt. Since there are various reasons for a plant to […]