What are the pests and diseases of carrots
In the process of growing such a garden crop as carrots, gardeners often have to wage a diligent fight against parasites on it. Diseases and pests of carrots appear for various reasons: due to improper care, non-observance of the rules of crop rotation, planting in the wrong place, etc. Gardeners use different methods of struggle.
What are the pests and diseases of carrots
Fungal diseases
During the period of growth, development and ripening of root crops, the culture is affected by many diseases. Some of them lead to a large loss of yield and a decrease in the palatability of the fruit.
Phomosis (dry rot)
This disease of carrots is caused by a fungal parasite. The crop is affected at the end of the growing season. First, the leaves and petioles are covered with gray-brown spots, then the fungus affects the root part - the root crop. The peak of the spread of phomosis occurs during the storage period of already infected root crops.
The fungus spreads at high temperatures. When storing root crops at temperatures below 10 ° C, the disease develops more slowly.
It is possible to determine that the harvested crop is affected by phomosis, possibly by shallow brown depressions on the surface of the root crop. Carrots affected by the phomosis rots and becomes unfit for human consumption.
The methods of struggle are as follows:
- timely cleaning of the site from plant residues;
- the introduction of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers before sowing carrots;
- removal of tops immediately after harvest.
White rot
Among all diseases, white rot is the most common. It affects all parts of the plant. You can determine that carrots are affected by white rot by the following signs:
- the appearance of soft areas on root crops;
- covering the surface of the fruit with wet rot;
- the appearance of mycelium with a white fluffy bloom, then - growths with black dots.
White rot spreads in fungal-infected soil. Dense plantings, high humidity, the presence of weeds on the site are factors that provoke the appearance of a fungus. The pathogen is resistant to temperature extremes.
Complex treatment of such a disease is carried out:
- feeding plantings with high dosage potassium - 1.5 tbsp is consumed per 10 liters of water. l. substances;
- treatment of the garden with copper-containing preparations or fungicides;
- disinfection of the basement with sulfur checkers.
Gray rot
It is a fungal infection that affects the roots of the plant. Wet rot on the surface of the fruit is a clear sign of gray rot. The surface affected by the fungus is soft, then it becomes wet and turns black. Gray mold appears in the affected areas. Fungal plaque spreads quickly to good fruits. Carrots that have been cleaned from mold have a pale and porous core.
Rot is one of the varieties of the disease
They fight this disease in the following way:
- feeding the site with nitrogen-containing fertilizers before planting carrots;
- spraying crops with Bordeaux mixture of 1% concentration;
- storage of crops in a cool room at a temperature of 2 ° C-3 ° C.
Gray mold spreads quickly in high humidity and high temperature conditions.
Brown spot
Brown spot is a fungus that infects a plant at all stages of growth and development, including during the period of maturation of the root crop. In young shoots, brown spotting appears on the lower part of the stem in the form of a girdle strip. Often, the disease of young carrots, brown spot, leads to death.
In adult specimens, such a sore appears in the form of light yellow spots, which after a while turn brown, then turn black. Affected black tissue on roots has a pronounced yellow halo. In conditions of high humidity, it is noticeable how the carrots have completely turned black. The parts spoiled by the fungus dry out quickly.
Protection against this disease lies in the regular loosening of the soil in conditions of high humidity. Preventive treatment of the garden with a decoction of nettle, celandine or horsetail will not be superfluous.
Rhizoctonia (felt rot)
Of all the diseases, carrots are most often affected by rhizoctonia.
Signs of manifestation are lead-gray dented spots inside vegetables. Over time, the affected areas on the outside are covered with a purple-brown felt bloom with black dots.
Affected plantings are treated with copper oxychloride or Mancoceb.
Alternaria (black rot)
Black rot is an infectious disease that manifests itself at all stages of growth and development of a garden crop.
According to the description, the disease can spread through planting material and soil. The fact that black rot has appeared on the plants is evidenced by blackened stems. Such a sore destroys crops in a short time.
On adult plants, Alternaria first affects the tips of the leaves, causing them to become dark in color. Infected foliage curls. Completely affected leaf turns yellow, dries up along with the petiole.
After that, Alternaria spreads to the aerial part, as a result of which dry black rot appears on it. This crop has a pronounced bitter taste and is not edible. Protection of plantings in the garden is carried out by spraying with the drug "Rovral".
Cercosporosis
The first sign of the appearance of this disease in the garden is the appearance of light brown spots on the surface of the leaves with a pale blotch in the center. At the second stage of the development of the disease, the spots increase in size, then acquire a lighter color. The affected leaf curls. The shaggy part of the plant dries out quickly and falls off.
In conditions of high humidity, pale spots of cercosporosis become covered with a gray hairy bloom, then turn black and rot. This sore interferes with the full growth and fruiting of the plant. In sick specimens, carrots grow small and wrinkled.
It is difficult to get rid of this disease, it is much easier to prevent it. To do this, the seeds are treated before sowing: first they are soaked in warm water (50 ° C), then 3 weeks after planting, the seedlings are sprayed with a Bordeaux mixture of 1% concentration.
Powdery mildew
Powdery mildew is a fungal infection that appears as a white powdery coating anywhere on the plant. Carrots affected by powdery mildew become tough, the core is loose, easily breaks and often bifurcates. Of all diseases, powdery mildew is the easiest to prevent because it only affects plants that do not receive good nutrition during cultivation.
The accompanying conditions for its development are high humidity and high air temperature.
In order to prevent the crops in the garden, they are fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.Another rescuer from powdery mildew is any fungicide preparation for treating plantings during the growing season.
Bacterial
Carrots are rarely affected by bacterial infections. But still there is one disease that causes great harm to both plants and the future harvest.
Bacteriosis
It is a bacterial disease that affects the testes and crops. If the carrot is affected by bacteriosis, its leaves begin to turn yellow at the edges, then the affected areas acquire a dark color with a bright yellow border. Further, the infection affects the petioles, as a result of which they dry out and fall off along with the tops. The stems are covered with black or brown stripes.
Signs of the disease on root crops are the presence of ulcers, gray or brown depressions. Plantings affected by bacteriosis in the garden emit an unpleasant specific odor.
Protection against disease - pre-sowing seed treatment. First, the planting material is immersed in warm water (52 ° C). Then, 3 weeks after planting, the crops are sprayed with preparations of the fungicide "Hom" or "Actellik" (40 g per 5 l of water).
Pests
Carrots can be protected with top dressing and fertilization.
Among all the existing parasites of useful vegetable garden, carrots are affected by several pests.
Carrot fly
The most inveterate root pests are the carrot fly and its larvae. With the onset of warm days, flies fly out of pupae overwintered in the soil. The fact that it is this pest that parasitizes the garden is evidenced by the leaves covered with bronze specks.
If the crops are not thinned out in time, the carrot fly will lay eggs in the soil. After a while, larvae will hatch from them. The worms that are born will gnaw through the passages in root crops. Worm carrots become unfit for food. The affected plantings show curly leaves.
Preventive measures:
- deep digging of the soil;
- timely removal of weeds from the site;
- spraying crops with ME, Sharpey, Arrivo, Decis, Profi or Actellik preparations.
Carrot lily
The curliness of the leaves on carrots is a sure sign that the beetle is parasitizing in the garden. This insect comes from pine trees and infects the aerial part of the plant. The carrot beetle, having jumping legs, like a flea, instantly spreads to all crops.
An adult louse lays eggs on the petioles and foliage of the plant, from which the larvae emerge. The white worm sucks the juices from the tissue of the culture. If you do not get rid of the leaf flies in time, the plantings will dry out over time.
It is possible to exterminate sucking worms and adult leaf beetles by repeatedly spraying the crops with soap and tobacco solution.
Carrot moth
The peak of parasitism of this pest occurs in the second decade of June. The moth lays eggs on all parts of the carrot tops, including the inflorescences. In July, caterpillars appear from them, which gnaw out all the green parts of the plant. By August, the caterpillar pupates and transforms into a hairy butterfly. For moth-affected carrots, terry and curly leaves are characteristic.
Carrot pest control involves:
- processing of plantings with a decoction of tomato tops;
- timely removal of weed residues from the site.
Gall nematode
Gall nematodes are microscopic white worms that damage the root system of young seedlings. These white parasites look like root induration. Excessive soil moisture and high humidity are the main conditions for their rapid reproduction. Roots affected by the nematode are unsuitable for human consumption.
To fight this worm is obtained with the help of the drug "Dekaris". Dissolve 1 tablet in 1 liter of water and water the soil in the garden.
Medvedka
A large insect with a dense shell and a powerful gnawing apparatus, it easily gnaws at the roots and stems of the plant. Often, because of this parasite, most of the crops die.Medvedka lays eggs in the soil, from which young offspring - larvae - are born. They do no less harm to plants, gnawing out the root and stem.
If a bear appears on the site, use the following measures to combat it:
- use a bait for parasites - "Medvetoks";
- vinegar diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10 is poured into the hole where the bear lives;
- make a poisonous solution from powder "Lotus" and water (1 tbsp. l. substance per 1 liter of water);
- put a cotton swab dipped in camphor oil into the hole.
Wireworm
The wireworm is a yellow worm, the larva of a click beetle. In adulthood, it reaches 3-4 cm in length.
The wireworm lives in the soil and gnaws at roots, making narrow passages in them. It easily moves in the ground and eats nearby growing root crops: potatoes, beets. Favorable conditions for the egg-laying of the beetle and the appearance of the wireworm are a humid environment and high temperatures. In dry soil, the wireworm dies.
It is possible to fight the parasite with the help of 2 drugs: "Bazudin" or "Aktara". Additionally, the plants are fed with ammonia-containing preparations during the growing season.
Conclusion
Diseases and pests of carrots cause great harm to plantings at all stages of growth and development. Using the above measures of prevention and control, it is easy to prevent their appearance and get a good and high-quality harvest of root crops. Competent care of crops is also important so that the carrots grow juicy, sweet and crunchy.