Gardening 101: Trouble in Paradise (How to Avoid)
All photos on this blog taken by the Garden Shrink. And no, this is not the Garden of Eden, but it sure looks like Paradise. Read on to learn about the importance of observation and identifying the Red Flag Warning Signs of gardening problems. But first ….. a Garden Shrink Growth Tip.
GROWTH TIP:
Remember APA. American Psychological Association? No. that’s my gig. APA=Always Pay Attention. Close attention. Be mindful. Curious. Aware. Diligent. And Relentless. Every day. Every moment. They all matter. Bad habits begin innocently enough, often due to inattention. AND GARDENING? Same thing. The threats and enemies to our vegetables and flowers don’t decimate our plants overnight. No. Problems develop gradually, and by the time you finally notice them, your cucumber vines are wilting, and with it, those kosher dill pickles you were planning to eat all winter long. Paying close attention to potential garden problems will prevent unnecessary grief; will enhance your enjoyment and success; and will multiply your yield of succulent heirloom tomatoes and summer squash (do we really need more?). Trust me, Doctor Dave, on this. I’ve learned from failure. The hard way. From seedlings becoming leggy from a lack of sunlight to insects and common plant diseases that devastated and even destroyed months of hard work in the span of a week. Playing close attention and identifying trouble when it first appears, with help from your local gardening center, will arm you with the knowledge and tools to push back, and defeat the pestilence, disease, and varmint invaders who will – I repeat, will – visit your garden annually. Because while gardening is a love affair. It is also warfare.
And while we’re attending, to attention, don’t just look at your roses. Stop and Smell Them! Gardening is fun. But living in the moment and appreciating what is right in front of our eyes, often takes practice and mindfulness. Learn to savor it all From start to finish. From pulling weeds and changing diapers. To picking fruit and attending graduations. Because time is short. And winter is coming.
So, you’d like a fresh Caprese salad, with your own heirloom tomatoes and Genovese basil? Me too. So … Pay Attention! APA. Because some insects love basil as much as you do!
Welcome Fellow Gardeners, Gardener Wannabees, & Growth Enthusiasts.
In my first blog I talked about the importance of being informed as a gardener. To read. To learn. To prepare yourself with gardening knowledge so you are acquainted with the fundamentals, which will increase your chances of success, and with it, your sense of accomplishment and pleasure. Today, I want to talk about another gardening and life fundamental: Attention to Detail. Sounds silly, right? Plain old commonsense. A no-brainer. Yup. You are correct. But despite the simplicity, I have to remind myself every single year to pay close attention and to not grow complacent. To inspect my plants for signs of trouble. To identify potential Red Flag warning signs and address problems sooner rather than later. And the outcome? A better garden , every single year! You can too. But first, lets look at my failures to pay attention from just last year, so you don’t make the same mistakes.
Learn From My Failures (Do as I say, not as I do)
So, the Garden Shrink has failed at gardening? Absolutely. Every season. Without exception. Gardening truly is warfare. Every year I battle squirrels and rabbits, cucumber and flea beetles, cabbage loopers and cut worms, powdery and downy mildew, Septoria leaf spot on my tomato plants, and this past year, Asiatic garden beetles that ravaged my basil and sunflowers for over six weeks. So, do I lose the war to these enemies? Not on your life! Not anymore. Because I’ve learned to pay super-duper, close attention to the Red Flags of garden problems. I’m much more attentive and proactive than when I started 19 years ago. Back then, I just hoped that issues would magically resolve themselves. Or hoped my plants would defeat them as they matured, without my help. I kind of stuck my head in the … dirt. Not anymore.
I still lose some battles, every season, and with it productivity, fruit, and a portion of my plants. Loss is inevitable. Whether you are a business owner (losses to unforeseen or uncontrollable factors … like pandemics or simply due to human error). A professional football team (“on any give Sunday …”). Or home gardeners, like us. We will lose some battles but let us resolve to not lose the War. Our goal should be to minimize losses and maximize potatoes, butternut squash, onions, and garlic in our pantries!
It’s beyond the scope of this post to examine all the potential garden problems and their solutions. That, my friend, would take a library, and you are in a hurry, like the rest of us. We will certainly talk about many of the common garden problems as we go along. But today, I want to focus on the big picture. Talk about the Red Flag warning signs suggestive that trouble is either on the way or has already landed. Where to get answers and solutions to these problems. And to begin developing a general strategy for identifying and thwarting our common garden enemies. Because while gardening is a love affair, it is also warfare.
Alright Already, I'm Paying Attention! Now What?
GLAD YOU ASKED. But not so fast. First, let me confess. I want to share a few of my recent failures, so you know, I do in fact, have a doctorate not only in clinical psychology, but in garden failures. And to do so, we have to look no further than week one of this year’s gardening season. No further than the cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower seeds I planted indoors in early March, of THIS YEAR! I couldn’t even follow my own sage advice (physician heal thyself!). So, what happened? Glad you asked. I started my seeds in a dome-covered, starter tray, on a heat mat, which is great for helping seeds germinate. The seeds germinated and emerged in record time – 3 days instead of 7 – and by the time I noticed (see, I was neglectful/human just like all of us) and put them under my fluorescent lights, they had become leggy (long, thin, spindly). Leggy seedlings become weak plants that are more susceptible to disease and the elements. My bad! Shame on me. Immediately, after seedlings emerge, they need light and lots of it. Get them out of the sauna, and into the light, my friend.
Thankfully, the good news about plants is they have short memories and are willing to forgive. But you must take responsibility, humble yourself, and apologize to your bell peppers to rectify the situation. This will lead to reconciliation. In the case of legginess, the solution is to give them access to lots of light (12-18 hours), and if the seedlings are too long and stringy, transplant them to a larger container, covering up the long stem with more seed starting mix or potting soil (this especially works well with tomatoes and peppers). Common problem, simple solution. But more importantly, why did the problem occur? All together now, Because Dr. Dave didn’t pay close attention! I assumed – you know what they say about assumptions – wrongly, that the seeds would not germinate and emerge for about 7 days, like they normally do, and I could be lackadaisical until then. Wrong! Note to self: Pay close attention to your seedlings and plants … daily. APA.
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"Look for Trouble. Find Trouble. And Nip it in the Bud."
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You want other examples of failure from the past 10 months. Okay, buckle up. I didn’t recognize that some of my tomato seedlings were being cut off at the base of the plant by “cut”worms (solution: encircle the base of the plant with a barrier so the cutworms can’t wrap themselves around the stem to feast). Bacterial wilt killed about 1/3 of my cucumber plants (solution: treat with an organic insecticide at the first sign of cucumber beetles). A few of my tomato plants were defoliated by Septoria leaf spot (solution: use a copper fungicide preventatively). Half of my corn was partially eaten by squirrels (solution: I can’t tell you, as this is a family-friendly site … just kidding animal lovers!). And finally, I didn’t identify the damage that was being done to my basil and sunflowers by Asiatic garden beetles, until most of these plants were decimated (solution: go out with a flashlight after dark and identify the culprits, and then hand-pick them off the leaves and either squish them (yucky, but deeply satisfying) or drop them into a container with soapy water and drown them. And all these problems occurred this year. After 18 years of gardening experience! Note to self: Pay Attention. Because while gardening is a love affair, it is also warfare.
P.S. After I wrote this blog, despite covering some of my vulnerable plants with row covers for the first time (works wonderfully), cabbage loopers did a number on two of my broccoli plants that weren’t covered totally. Even when you pay attention … you’re not paying attention!
What caused this unfortunate state of affairs? Downy mildew or some other disease? Insects? Maybe. But my bet is on, failure to Pay Attention. APA!
WHAT TO ATTEND TO:
THE "RED FLAGS' OF GARDENING
Ok, you’ve convinced us, that you, Dr. Dave, are a gardening failure. So how do we minimize mistakes and not repeat yours? By paying close attention and inspecting your plants frequently for any signs of trouble in Paradise. Bend down, become a scientist, and take a long, close look. Lift the leaves of your plants and examine the underside. Inspect the stems, foliage, and fruit. Sound daunting? It’s not. It doesn’t require a lot of time, just a sharp eye and diligence, followed by immediate ACTION to address the problems you have identified. Look for trouble. Find trouble. And nip it in the bud.
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"Because while gardening is a love affair, it is also warfare."
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6 Red Flags of Trouble
1. PHYSICAL DAMAGE
A. Skeletonized leaves (most of the leaves eaten except the area around the vein).
B. Small and Large holes in leaves.
C. Damage to the outer margins of leaves.
D. Leaf curl.
E. Young plants with missing leaves or cut off at the base.
F. Holes in stems at ground level (pumpkins, squash) and evidence of frass (looks like sawdust).
G. Holes in the fruit itself.
2. DISEASE
A. Black, brown, yellow or rust-colored spots on leaves, stems or fruit.
B. Wilting/Dying plants and vines.
C. A white coating on plant leaves.
D. Presence of moldy coatings, blotches, scabs, lesions, and rot.
3. INSECTS (many are beneficials and we want and need them; some are sworn enemies who love veggies
as much as you do). Some of them are the BAD GUYS:
A. White moths fluttering around your garden (Beware: they lay eggs on the bottom of your plant leaves,
and the larvae emerge like a hibernating bear in springtime).
B. Worm-like insects of all shapes, sizes and colors (sometimes you don’t see them, but their “trash,” i.e.,
looper poop on plants, slime trails).
C. Aphids, slugs, beetles, spider mites, squash bugs, grasshoppers and white flies.
4. Fruit not setting 2-3 weeks after flowering.
5. Partially eaten fruit on the ground (or still on the plant).
6 Anything that looks out of place, stunted, or like death-warmed over.
I've Spotted the Problems. Now What Do I Do ?????????
IGNORE IT, RIGHT? Like Dr. Dave has done in his past life. You tell me. Should you ignore the funny sound your car just started making on the highway, the letter you just received from the IRS, or the repeated complaints of your life-partner or boss? At your own peril! Not unless you like trouble (if so, that is a problem for a different day, to discuss with your therapist. HaHa). Because, while it may not signal a crisis today, that light at the end of the tunnel might be a locomotive coming at you tomorrow. And furthermore: Don’t assume the change in your teenager’s behavior is simply a phase. Don’t continue to spend as your budget gets tighter and tighter, and your credit score goes lower and lower. Don’t treat yourself to dessert morning, noon, and night (noon and night is ok, though). It’s much easier to fix problems when they are first spotted and pliable, before they become fixed, hardened, and old .. like me.
No, my friend, do not ignore gardening red flags. Once you have identified the problem/symptom, the next step is to identify the actual cause of the problem. Is it insect or disease? Animal or mineral (deficiency)? Sunlight, water, or nutrient? It’s time to do a little digging. The University of Minnesota Extension website has an easy to use, “What’s Wrong with My Plant” diagnostic tool (https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/) that helps you pinpoint the disease or pest that is harming your vegetable plants. Cornell University has a Vegetable MD Online tool, with a Photo Gallery, that does the same (http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/). These and your own, state, Cooperative Extension programs are great resources for gardeners and farmers, alike (partnership between the USDA, state Land-Grant Universities, and local/state agencies). Or you can purchase your own reference materials, like, The Ortho Home Gardener’s Problem Solver or The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control.
Once you have identified the cause of your plant or flower problem, simply look up the remedy on-line or in a gardening book (“how to treat/get rid of …”) or go to your local garden center for advice/solutions (talking to “real people” is good for your emotional health!) Solutions can vary from creating barriers (like row covers to keep insects out), to spraying pests with a garden hose (aphids), to hand-picking them off (Japanese beetles), to using a bait to lure and eradicate them (cheap beer in a small container will attract and kill slugs – don’t waste the good stuff), and finally, to using organic or non-organic repellents or treatments (like copper fungicide or Neem Oil) to discourage or rid pests and animals from your garden or to prevent problems from spreading/causing more damage. Follow the directions. Reapply as directed. And continue … to pay attention … to the outcome. Because one battle does not end the war (in MA that only occurs after a hard freeze, which kills plants and bugs without discretion or mercy).
Simple, right? Right. Simple but not always easy. Finding the insects responsible may take some real investigative work, like a scientist, investigative reporter, or a quality inspection officer. Insects, for example, and their eggs, often hide in plain sight. Like on the underside of leaves. Or they blend with the color of the plant (camouflage; see I told you it was warfare). Or they resemble beautiful, harmless butterflies. Or they come out only at night (I never saw the Asiatic garden beetles that were ravaging my basil until I went on a search and destroy mission, armed with a flashlight, after sunset). But all the effort and associated attention will be worth it, when you eat those vine-ripened, beefsteak, tomato sandwiches; stir-fry recipes made with your own bok choy, broccoli, onions and carrots; and hot peppers that bring tears of joy to your eyes, and an addictive burn to you palate.
So, friends, remember APA. Always Pay Attention. Especially to Red Flag warning signs. They are like red stop lights; heed them or risk calamity. Identify garden problems and root causes early. And nip those problems in the bud. Happy Gardening. Y’all come back now, ya hear?
NEWBIE TIP:
Don’t let all the details deter you. They can feel overwhelming. But, like all new skills, gardening has a learning curve. To be perfectly honest, chances are pretty good, that you could simply scatter seed in a grass-less, sunny location, and end up with a few plants making it on their own without help of any kind. I first started gardening after I moved to Massachusetts and noticed tomatoes growing in a plot in the middle of my side yard. When I pulled the weeds around them, it became apparent that this patch of land had been used as a garden. The previous homeowner was a gardener who did not plant anything that year, because he was selling the house, mid-summer. I don’t blame him, I mean who wants to do all that work, only to let the next person enjoy the fruit of your labor? And the rest is history. And every year since, I have tomato plants pop up where I did not plant them (seed from the year before fell to the ground and grew up all by itself). Gardening really is simple. An Axiom marketing 2021 survey found that 82% of gardeners felt successful or very successful (including newbies)j. But it can be as easy or complicated as you make it. And I think as you continue growing, you will learn to like or at least tolerate the challenges and complexity of gardening. Because as much as it pains us, overcoming obstacles and problems, and winning the War, makes us stronger, more knowledgeable, more competent. And just as important, makes the strawberries and corn on the cob all the sweeter.
