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People who grow peas at home may run into a number of problems with snap, garden variety, or oriental pod peas. Lets take a look at some of the issues affecting pea plants.
Some of the diseases that pea plants can get are asocochyta blight, bacterial blight, root rot, damping off, downy and powdery mildew, fusarium wilt, and different viruses.
Asocochyta blight is composed of a trio of fungi, Ascochyta pisi, Phoma medicaginis var. pinodella (A. pinodella), and Mycosphaerella pinodes (A. pinodes), which live through the winter in dead plants or are spread by infected pea seeds during planting season Wind and rain transmit spores onto healthy plants. Different fungi can cause different symptoms, but Asocochyta blight usually shows up as a blackened stem, yellow leaves with brown spots, and dropped buds. Both pods and seeds may be afflicted, and severe infections kill off seedlings. To control Asocochyta blight remove and destroy diseased plants as soon as symptoms appear. Since there are no fungicides that are resistant to this disease, it is best to take precautions like planting disease-free seed and rotating crops every year with ones that are not susceptible.
Pea plants can get bacterial blight, which is similar to asocochyta blight. It lives through the winter in infected plant waste and infected seeds. Most commonly caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae, bacterial blight may also be caused by other bacterium. Again, the bacteria that hurt pea plants are spread by water, whether it’s from raindrops, overhead watering, or people or pets walking in a wet garden. This is especially true for plants that have already been hurt by things like frost. Bacterial blight first appears on leaves as shiny, dark green water spots. Later, these spots change shape and become papery, brown to see-through, and lighter in the middle. If left alone, the disease will spread to the whole plant, including the pods, and make the buds and young pods fall off. To avoid bacterial blight, only plant seeds that have been grown commercially and are free of disease. Do not use seeds from other plants, even if they look healthy. Remove all debris in the fall and rotate crops yearly. To stop the spread of this disease in pea plants, please water them at the base and do not work near them when the leaves are wet.
As a home gardener, few things are more frustrating than nurturing your pea plants from seed only to have your efforts sabotaged right before harvest. Walking through your garden and noticing holes in the leaves or entire plants stripped bare is disheartening. Before you can take steps to protect your pea crop it’s essential to identify which pests are feasting on your plants.
Common Insect Invaders on Pea Plants
Several insects target pea plants as an appetizing food source. Here are the most likely culprits chewing through your garden:
Aphids
Aphids are small sap-sucking insects that come in colors like green, yellow, black or red They congregate on young shoots and the undersides of leaves, piercing the plant tissues with their needle-like mouthparts. Heavy aphid infestations cause curled, stunted leaves and poor growth.
Pea Weevils
These beetles lay eggs on pea blossoms. The larvae burrow into the developing pea pods to devour the seeds and interior contents. Pea weevils can decimate a crop, leaving behind empty pods devoid of peas. Infested seeds have small holes or tunnels through them.
Caterpillars
Caterpillars are the larvae stage of moths and butterflies. Species like cabbage loopers feed on legume crops and chew ragged holes in leaves and stems. They can completely defoliate plants when present in large numbers.
Bean Leaf Beetles
Adult bean leaf beetles and their larvae eat leaves, stems, pods and even developing peas They leave behind shot holes and scarred pods These pests overwinter in plant debris before emerging to infest next year’s crop.
Evidence of Larger Pests on Pea Plants
Not all threats to pea plants come from insects. Larger pests like birds, rodents and other critters can also wreak havoc in the garden. Watch for these signs of their activity:
- Whole plants pulled out of the ground or completely stripped of leaves
- Large sections of foliage chewed off
- Pods and developing peas missing
- Tooth and claw marks on remaining plant parts
- Tracks and droppings around garden beds
Deer, groundhogs, squirrels, mice, rabbits and numerous bird species will feed on tender vegetables, including peas. Protecting plants from these hungry creatures is critical to save your crop.
Diseases Causing Symptoms on Pea Plants
Along with pests, several stubborn plant diseases can also diminish the vigor and productivity of pea plants:
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Powdery mildew: White powdery coating on leaves and stems.
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Downy mildew: Yellow splotches on upper leaf surfaces.
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Fusarium wilt: Leaves yellow and wilt followed by death of the entire plant.
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Root rot: Roots turn brown and mushy leading to weak, stunted plants prone to collapse.
Prompt identification and treatment of diseases is key to avoid widespread infection and major plant losses.
8 Ways to Protect Pea Plants from Pests and Diseases
Once you’ve pinpointed the culprits attacking your pea patch, it’s time to take action. Try these organic, natural methods to defend your plants:
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Remove any infected plants immediately to prevent spread.
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Apply floating row covers as a physical barrier against insects.
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Attract beneficial predators like birds, ladybugs and lacewings.
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Use organic sprays such as neem oil or insecticidal soap.
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Apply kaolin clay as a natural pest deterrent.
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Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around plants to kill soft-bodied bugs.
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Practice crop rotation from year to year.
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Ensure proper spacing for air circulation to prevent fungus.
The combination of preventative measures and selective treatment of active infestations or diseases is key. Always start with gentler organic options before considering stronger chemical pesticides if all else fails. With persistence and vigilance, you can protect your pea crop from these common garden pests. The reward will be a bountiful harvest of fresh peas to enjoy!
Early Prevention is Critical
Your best defense is proactively making your garden as inhospitable to pests as possible:
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Remove weeds and debris where pests may overwinter
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Apply finishing mulch to suppress weeds
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Check routinely for early signs of infestation
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Maintain optimal growing conditions to avoid plant stress
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Use drip irrigation to prevent fungal issues
Staying on top of crop care makes it much easier to spot and treat problems before they spiral out of control. A healthy garden ecosystem in balance is the most sustainable solution.
When to Call for Professional Help
If DIY efforts fail to protect your pea plants from persistent damage, it may be wise to contact a professional pest control service. Qualified experts have access to more powerful treatments that require proper licensing and equipment. However, always discuss organic and natural options first.
Protecting your pea crop yields requires diligence to identify threats and promptly apply the appropriate solutions. Pay close attention for early signs of damage or disease and be prepared to take action. With smart integrated pest management, you can foil these common pea plant pests and enjoy a bountiful harvest. Get ready to reap the rewards!
Root rot and Damping off
Peas often have problems with root rot and damping off, which are both caused by fungi and made worse by cool, wet soil. Seeds become soft and rotted while seedlings fail due to sunken stem lesions. Older seedlings develop root rot when peas are planted in overly wet soil. Root rot fungi makes foliage yellowed, stunted, wilted or just plain dead looking. If you want to look, the roots will be brown, black, or red, and the top layer will be peeling off. On occasion, lesions may appear. To prevent these fungal conditions, purchase commercially grown, disease free seeds and/or those pre-treated with fungicide. Again, rotate crops and be sure to plant in well draining soil with proper spacing. Do not over water.
Downy and Powdery mildew
Powdery mildew and downy mildew are both fungi that spread through spores. For downy mildew, spores spread best in cool, damp conditions; for powdery mildew, they spread best when it doesn’t rain. Fungicide application may be helpful as well as crop rotation. Remove debris at the end of the growing season and purchase disease free seeds.
As well as being in the soil, fusarium wilt can also be found in dead plants and other plant matter. One of the first signs of this disease is wilting, which slowly leads to faded, yellowing leaves and stunted growth. Eventually most plants succumb to this fungal pathogen and die. There are fungicides that might help with the problem, but the best way to stop it from spreading is to keep your crops from getting infected in the first place. This can be achieved through regular rotation of crops and sterilization of the soil through solarization.
What is eating Pea plant.
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