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Why are there brown and yellow spots on the leaves of my vegetable plant?

There are a couple of things that could cause this leaf spotting–let’s investigate.

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Leaf Blight

Leaf Blight is caused by a fungus and can cause brown and yellow spots all over the leaves. Leaves can eventually die and fall off. If left untreated, Leaf Blight can kill your whole plant. To treat, you can use a garden fungicide. Just make sure you are choosing one that is organic and meant for edible plants, as you will be eating this plant and don’t want to use any harsh chemicals. Always follow all directions on the bottle.

Bacterial Leaf Spot

Leaf Spot can happen if your plant is kept very soggy or sitting in water for an extended period of time. To prevent this, make sure that there is no water sitting in the saucer of your plant. If your plant is outside when it is raining, it might be a good idea to take the saucer off the plant during or after the rainfall to make sure it is draining properly. In addition, making sure the plant is getting proper airflow will help prevent Leaf Spot. If your plant is outside, this shouldn’t be a problem. However, if your plant is in a sheltered area indoors where it isn’t receiving any breeze, it might be a good idea to add a fan to the area if you start seeing symptoms of leaf spot.

Pests

Pests like spider mites and aphids can wreak havoc on your garden plants, causing yellowing leaves and eventual death of the plant if left untreated. To spot spider mites, look for webbing in between leaves and on the back of leaves, as well as small white, red or brown dots- these are the mites. Aphids are a bit larger and easier to spot, they attach to stems or leaves and suck the sap out of the plant. They are green and can blend in with your plants, so look closely!

To treat these pests, there are two methods. You can treat it with a natural insecticide. Just make sure you are choosing one that is organic and meant for edible plants, as you will be eating this plant and don’t want to use any harsh chemicals. Always follow all directions on the bottle. Another method is to use predatory insects, like lacewings. They can be ordered online as eggs or larvae, and are voracious predators and will eat spider mites and aphids without eating or harming your plant! Follow the directions closely when using predatory insects to ensure proper release and care.

Need more help?

We're confident your vegetable plant will be back to normal in no-time, but if you've followed the steps above and things just aren't improving you can contact us here.