Management of healthy plants from pests and diseases

Terrace garden, Balcony garden and Garden around the housing premises are susceptible for pest and diseases than plants at field.

Don’t worry. You are creating a micro biodiversity in your context. Every creatures in this planet has their own space for their growth. Most of the insects even help us in farming. https://saaiacademy.in/2020/09/20/insect-friends-to-garden-beneficial-insects/. Some times Squirrel cut our tender shoots, which proliferates side branches.

But, the management should be taken if the damage exceeds economic thresh hold level. Instead of handling with single remedy, integrated pest and disease management would be effective.

• Daily monitoring of each and every plants solve 75% of your pest and disease issues.

Note : Bottom of the leaves, tender shoots, flowers and fruits are main places where you can find more number of pest. Hence, monitor regularly.

Pest may bite or suck plant parts. Some pest like white fly, aphids transmits viral disease to plants. Eg. Bhendi yellow vein mosaic, Banana bunchy top, Cucumber Mosaic, etc., are few examples for viral disease in plants.

If you observe viral disease in your garden, immediately uproot the virus affected plants and destroy it to avoid further spread.

Take care while arranging your plant containers or while sowing. Avoid same family plants adjacently. Spread of pest or disease would be very easy if same family plants planted nearby. Eg. Tomato, Brinjal, Chilly etc., Accommodate green leafy vegetables, some gourds or Radish or flower crops in between.

Neem oil (5 ml) + Khadi soap or mild Shampoo solution spray to control most of the sucking pest. If infection is heavy spray @ interval of 3 days once.

Maida flour dilute with water in the ratio of 1:10 – spray arrest the movement and breath of most of the sucking pest like Mealy bugs, Aphids, etc.,

Cinnamon powder + water (1:5 ratio) or sprinkle Cinnamon powder around the plants = act as a repellent against ants and pest.

Turmeric solution to control grasshoppers

Collection by painting brush and destroy the pest with support of kerosene would minimize the pest population.

Switch on your garden light + hang out few castor oil or any oil coated papers around the light during night time. Most of the flying pest will stick on the oil coated papers. (Be careful with electricity)

Or keeping kerosene or other oil lamps in a tray with water would attract many flying insects during night. Morning can observe fallen insects in the water. (Be careful with fire)

Zinger : Garlic : Chilly paste = equal proportion = paste diluted with water in the ratio of 1:5 = pest control solution

Providing good drainage facility = Best management for soil borne pest & disease control

Neem cake powder application in the soil @ interval of 15 – 30 days (according to the situation) maintain healthy media for your plant growth.

Forceful spray of water disturb ant colony.

Destroy severely affected portions of the plants

Keep grains and fruit waste for birds and Squirrel. They won’t disturb your plants.

If you observe Squirrel is damaging plants in your terrace garden, shift the pot to nearer place. That may be the pathway for squirrel. Keep some leafy vegetables instead of fruit crops.

Make a solution of Chilli and Garlic paste in water. Spray the solution regularly for a few weeks. Rat & Mouse won’t like the taste and smell. Will stop eating the leaves. Trap also will reduce the issue.

Spray water forcefully on powdery mildew affected leaves will rectify the issues. Fire ash is also good remedy for these disease.

Happy Gardening

P. Dheivanai, M.Sc.(Ag.), 9382132593

SAAI Greens