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Help with Vegetabel Garden Caare #871233

Asked June 03, 2024, 7:12 AM EDT

Hi, I took your 6 week online course and have been gardening for 5 years. I have new raised beds with raised bed soil, organic compost, worm castings, What should I use to prevent/treat brown spots, bugs, leaf rot etc. I have already lost 2 cucumber plants. I have been told to use neem oil, soap spray and now an organic Gardner says Zerotol. I follow the guidelines rotate crops, spacing water under leafs etc. Can you give me a guideline on what I should use and how often? Thank you from a frustrated Gardner.

Wayne County Michigan

Expert Response

Hi, thanks for the question.

Your frustration is well founded. It can be hard to sort out all the information that we are given. It is important to identify the source of the problem, whether it be the soil, water, weather, disease, pests, etc. Knowing what your plant needs and what can harm them will help you identify the signs and symptoms of the problem maker. Another important step is to review/get a soil test (Home | MSU Soil Test) report, since nutrient availability and pH can affect the plant. Pesticides choices are dependent on the crop since different crops may require different control measures. If you can send well focused pictures of your problem and/or a detail description of the problem, we can help in identifying the problem and select the appropriate control measures, timing, and frequency.

Here's some good information on cucumbers:

Cucumber | Diseases and Pests, Description, Uses, Propagation (psu.edu)
How to grow cucumbers (msu.edu)
Growing cucumbers in home gardens | UMN Extension

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 03, 2024, 6:04 PM EDT
image0.jpegimage1.jpegimage2.jpegimage3.jpegimage4.jpegimage5.jpegimage6.jpegSent from my iPhone
These are leaves from my pepper plants, there are brown spots on my cucumber leaves. The bed the cucumber is in is new, with raised bed soil, organic compost and worm castings. I saw a slug on my bean plants. Does the neem oil work? Should I use that or the soap spray for bugs. Alternate neem and soap spray? Have you heard of ZoTrol? Is it safe? Thanks.
On Jun 3, 2024, at 6:05 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied June 03, 2024, 7:59 PM EDT
image0.jpegimage1.jpegimage2.jpegimage3.jpegimage4.jpegimage5.jpegimage6.jpegSent from my iPhone
These are leaves from my pepper plants, there are brown spots on my cucumber leaves. The bed the cucumber is in is new, with raised bed soil, organic compost and worm castings. I saw a slug on my bean plants. Does the neem oil work? Should I use that or the soap spray for bugs. Alternate neem and soap spray? Have you heard of ZoTrol? Is it safe? Thanks.
On Jun 3, 2024, at 6:05 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied June 03, 2024, 7:59 PM EDT

Sent from my iPhone
I meant ZeroTrol thanks
On Jun 3, 2024, at 7:58 PM, Katie's Email <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


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Sent from my iPhone
These are leaves from my pepper plants, there are brown spots on my cucumber leaves. The bed the cucumber is in is new, with raised bed soil, organic compost and worm castings. I saw a slug on my bean plants. Does the neem oil work? Should I use that or the soap spray for bugs. Alternate neem and soap spray? Have you heard of ZoTrol? Is it safe? Thanks.
On Jun 3, 2024, at 6:05 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied June 03, 2024, 8:07 PM EDT

Hi again,

Let's start with the marginal necrosis (brown edges) on the pepper and bean leaves. Although this could be a disease, it appears more like the plants are getting too much nitrogen.  

Managing Pests in Gardens: Trees and Shrubs: Disorders: Nitrogen excess—UC IPM (ucanr.edu)

The spots on the pepper leaves appears to be bacterial spot, a seedborn disease.  A copper fungicide (also a bactericide) can slow this down.

Bacterial Spot on Pepper and tomatoes | Yard and Garden (iastate.edu)

Slugs can do a number on many plants,  a non-toxic slug bait is an option or trap them.

Slugs in home gardens | UMN Extension

The white spots on the brassica leaf need to be watched.  These could be some minor insect damage.

Although insecticidal soap and neem oil are good to have in your arsenal, they may not be effective all problems.   If you are using pesticides, it is important to read the label completely to know what you can use it on and whether it will control what you wish to control. It is also important to follow the label, The Label is the Law. Most labels can be found online.

ZeroTol products by Biosafe systems are OMRI approved products with active ingredients hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid.  It can help control multiple fungal and bacteria related plant diseases.  Safe when used according to the label.


An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 05, 2024, 10:58 AM EDT

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