Growing healthy, disease-free vegetables and flowers must begin with proper watering, fertilizing, and weeding. These practices help maintain plant health and increase defense reactions by the plant.

A variety of disease organisms are commonly found in home gardens. Many of these organisms survive the winter on infected plant debris and become active with the onset of warmer temperatures and spring rains. Most diseases are also stimulated by rainfall throughout the growing season.

To help minimize the severity of springtime disease, thoroughly remove and destroy all infected debris at the end of the growing season. It is also important to remove and destroy weeds both within and surrounding the garden, since they can harbor disease organisms. Avoid the build-up of disease organisms in the soil by practicing crop rotation.

To reduce the activity of disease organisms during the growing season, minimize the availability of moisture by watering plants at ground level early in the day [1] and providing adequate spacing between plants. To reduce the spread of disease, promptly remove and destroy [2] infected leaves and plants, and avoid working in the garden when plants are wet.

A variety of fungicides are available for disease control, but are not usually needed. If disease has been severe in the past, a fungicide application [3] can be used as a preventative treatment. Make sure to properly identify the disease before selecting, buying, or using a fungicide.

Finally, use disease-free seeds or transplants and resistant varieties when planting the garden.