Leaving land idle and clean through the growing season will reduce disease agents in the soil. Fallowing is especially helpful if done in the summer months when soil temperatures are high. Frequent plowing will keep the soil dry and free of plant growth and expose soil-borne disease organisms, such as nematodes, to killing heat and excessive drying. Other benefits of fallowing are weed and insect control. This practice is most efficient if rainfall is low and temperatures are high.
Weeds harbor insects and serve as hosts for many virus diseases.
For most viruses to survive they must remain in a living organism whether it be a host plant or insect. Destroying weeds in and around the garden may eliminate potential overwintering host plants. Avoiding Disease Change Planting Date. Some diseases can be controlled by changing the planting date. Warm-season vegetables, like peas and okra, should be planted after soils warm sufficiently to avoid seedling disease.