It causes galls or knots on susceptible plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, beans and many other vegetables. Plant diseases are worst when light rain showers or heavy dews have fallen and when temperatures are mild. During these times, watch your garden closely for signs of disease. Signs of Plant Diseases Plant diseases are evident in many ways. They attack all parts of the plant, as shown in Figure 1.
Plants can get diseases from the time the seed is placed in the soil until the vegetable is eaten.
It is important to identify disease symptoms quickly, so that control practices can be taken to prevent unnecessary loss. Disease Control in the Garden Fertilize and water plants properly to keep them strong. Healthy plants do not get diseases as easily as weak ones. It is best to irrigate the garden by running water between the rows or by trickle irrigation. Irrigate a garden by running water between the rows.