Celery Diseases And Pests. Part 2

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

We continue to talk about diseases and pests of celery

Getting Started - Part 1.

A disease such as septoria is more commonly known as white spot. This disease belongs to the category of fungal, it affects not only celery, but also parsley and parsnips. This disease manifests itself on the lower leaves, as well as on the stems and petioles. Here pale or yellowish spots appear, complemented by dark rims, in diameter these spots can even reach five millimeters. After a while, such spots occupy the entire area of the leaves. As for the petioles and stems, then the spots will be elongated. The causative agents of this disease will infect the seeds. In the event that the damage spreads massively, and the leaves begin to turn yellow and subsequently dry out. The petioles of such a diseased plant break. During the growing season, the disease will spread through spores, which will be carried not only by the wind, but also through raindrops.

Measures to combat this disease will be strict adherence to the norms of crop rotation; it is possible to return the crop to its previous place no earlier than in four years. Seeds can only be harvested from completely healthy plants, and before planting, the seeds must be treated without fail. The best solution would be to warm the seeds for about thirty minutes in hot water at an elevated temperature. Such an event should be carried out approximately two to three weeks before the start of sowing. After that, the seeds should be cooled in cold water, and then be sure to dry the seeds. Also, then you should constantly loosen the soil and carefully monitor that weeds do not appear. As soon as the first signs of the disease become noticeable, the beds should be sprayed with one percent Bordeaux liquid. This treatment should be done approximately every ten days. Two weeks before harvesting, such processing should be completely stopped. The harvested crop must be washed with water.

Another fungal disease is called leaf cercosporosis. The disease becomes noticeable on the leaves and stems, where elongated spots of a round or angular shape appear, their diameter can reach six millimeters. In color, these spots will be yellowish or dirty brown in color. Over time, these spots begin to fade in the very center, and then a rather narrow rim of dark brown appears along their edges. If the weather is humid, then diseased tissues will become covered with a grayish coating. As for the stems and petioles, then the spots will be already depressed and elongated, reddish-brown in color. Diseased plants will be very stunted in growth, and the leaves will begin to turn yellow and soon dry out altogether.

Crop rotation should be carefully observed, and special attention should be paid to the selection of seeds. It is also recommended to warm up the seeds, cool them down and then dry them, just as to prevent a previous disease. Of course, it is very important to remove weeds in a timely manner and to loosen the soil constantly. Spraying with a 1% Bordeaux liquid is also suitable, which should be stopped two weeks before harvesting.

As for pests, they are represented by the carrot beetle and carrot fly. Contrary to their names, these pests also attack celery. The carrot beetle is a small insect of light green color. Adult insects and even larvae will consume plant sap. Actually, the affected plants have an extremely unpleasant taste. In order to combat, such drugs as Iskra and Fitoverm are suitable. Two sprays should be carried out: in May and in June. Carrot fly - this pest reaches five millimeters in length, they have a greenish tint, and the head will be brown and the legs will be yellow. Proper care will be the actual control measures: compliance with crop rotation, loosening and destruction of weeds. You can also sprinkle the beds with sand and mothballs in a ten to one ratio.