Protection against Powdery mildew

Powdery mildew is a very common disease that can affect plants such as Rose, Tomato, Peppers, Cucumbers,.. If you want to prevent the disease it is ideally to spray the plants with chamomile and sage tea if the weather is cold and wet. Use the tea spray every 5 days.

We can strength the immunity of the plants with Nettles extract. We soak the Nettles into the water (we put the Nettle in the dish and cover them with water), leave it 24 hours and then strain them. With this formulation we spray the plants in early morning or late evening. With this preparation we strength the immunity of the plants. The preparation also repel the louse.

However, if the plant is already attacked by powdery mildew (brown spots and patches on the leaves), we have to carefully cut off all the affected leaves and spray the plant with cooled, strong chamomile and saga tea.

It also helps to spray the plants with milk. When the tomato begin to ripe, it is recommended to water the plant with a mixture of milk and water (50:50 ratio) to supply the plant with the needed calcium.

We spray plants in the early morning (until 8 am) or at late evening, so the sun does not scorch the wet leaves.

If we want immune plants we have to make sure that they do not suffer the drought. The plants also shouldn`t be lacking in nutrients. We can remove various other pests manually. If there are too many pests it is the best to get more powerful products.

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Good Neighbors Part 2. - Preventing diseases and pests

We have already discussed about »the good neighborly relations« between plants in post Good Neighbors Part 1. We told which plants are more or less good to be placed together in the garden. In this – second part, we will say something abut the plants which prevent diseases and pests.

When we decide to grow our own garden, we of course try to produce as healthy food as posible.  But here apears a problem: There are many pests and diseases which we are trying to get rid of with various chemicals. But with chemicals we do not make any benefit to ourselves. Our goal is healthy and natural home grown food. With chemical produts the quality of home grown food is lowered.

In the fight against pests and diseases, we can place on the garden some plants that are used to treat or prevent certain diseases and to drive away pests. In this natural way we are preserving home grown food healthy and quality.

First let`s take a look at the plants which are really needed in the garden and which garden crop need them the most:

1. NASTURTIUM: Because it drives away the leaf louse, it is good to be placed near Potatoes, Brassicas, Fruit Trees and Lettuce

2. We plant BASIL near Fruit vegetables like Tomatoes, Peppers and Rose because it prevents the powdery mildew

3. CHAMOMILE: It acts against blight. Especially appropriate place in the garden for this plant is near Tomatoes and Brassicas.

 


4. CHIVES also counteract against Powdery mildew and it is suitable for placing near Strawberries, Carrots, Tomatoes and Roses

 


5. We pland SAVORY near Legumes because it drives away leaf louse.

6. GARLIC, TAGETES, MAROGOLD! These plants are must in every garden because they make a huge benefit to your garden. You just have to make sure that you do not plant Garlic near Peas, Beans or Cabbage.   

Few very good combinations:

-          Onions near Carrots

-          Leeks near  Carrot, Parley

-          Carrot near Salad

-          Radish near Carrot

If you to not know how to tackle the entire planting, you can view the Example of plants arrangement, which includes a »Good neighbors« and the above mentioned plants. You can find the example here.

Of course there are many other pests that can invade your garden. In the table below you can see which plants to plant near crops to prevent certain diseases and pests.  You can also make a preparation to fight diseases (make a tea and use it as spray). All the plants listed below can be used as mulch or preparation exept basil. 

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Vegetable garden plan - example

I made an example of vegetable garden plan (plants arrangement in the garden). The following example is actually the current layout in our garden. Later I will add other options =)

Example of vegetable garden plan:

Click on the Image to enlarge it!

You can also check the posts about factors that we have to pay attention at when we are making out vegetable garden plan.
Good Neighbors 1. Part - Friendly Plants
Good Neighbors 2. Part - Plants that are preventing diseases and pests
Crop Rotation

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Good Neighbors 1.Part

When we are talking about "good neighbors" in the garden we are of course talking about plants. In the previous post we said something about crop rotation. Now we will learn some more about what plants are "friends" with other plants and which plants do not like others. You will be able to make a perfect plan for your garden. In the next post: Good neighbors 2. part we will say something about preventing diseases and plants. Than you will be able to make a perfect vegetable garden plan.

In the table you can see the major plants on which it is good to pay attention on. Others, you can combine as you like :)

I already mentioned above that we can also prevent diseases and pests with the right arrangement. You can learn more about preventing diseases and pest in the post Good Neighbors 2.part.

Vegetable garden plan

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Crop Rotation

Crop rotation is very important to the productivity and the health of your garden. As we all know it is important that we don`t plant the same type of vegetables on the same place every year. This process is called Crop Rotation. We have to pay attention on the previous year`s plants arrangement.

Here is an example of Crop Rotation:

(What kind of plant is the best for the part of the garden compared to your previous year plant)

Last year: roots, potato...........................This year: salad crops, bulbous vegetables, grain legumes
Last year: cole crops...............................This year. roots
Last year: salad crops, bulbous vegetables, grain legumes, potato,..This year: cole crops

Exceptions:

Last year: leeks, kohlrabi,................................ This year: radicchio
Last year: cole crops........................................This year: salad, cucumbers
Last year: cole crops, radicchio, salad, beans,.....This year: spinach
Last year: cole crops, carrot,............................This year: onion 


For easier decision I`ve made a simple table with Crop rotation rules. I hope it will help you :).

Limitations in the crop rotation 

 

 

 

 

Previous Crop: Crop of vegetables, which we planted in a certain part of the garden

Current Crop: Crop of vegetables, which we want to plant this year

Now when we are familiar with the basics about crop rotation, we can also check some other factors that we have to keep in mind when we are making our vegetable garden plan.



If you have some problems with your vegetable garden plan according to Crop rotation limits and other factors, you can check my Vegetable garden plan. 


Related posts: 

• Good neighbors part 1 - How to decide which plants should you plant together

• Good neighbors part 2 - How to prevent diseases and pests on natural way.

• Plants arrangement example

• Planning Your Own Vegetable Garden | Woman Tribune - How to get started growing your own vegetables in your garden.

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