Q:Each year I have a lot of disease problems in my vegetable garden. What am I doing wrong? Is there anything I can do other than use sprays?

B.E.,

Cooper City

A: There are several cultural methods you can use to reduce diseases in your garden. These include spacing your plants far enough apart to allow for good air circulation, buying disease and nematode resistant varieties, using mulch and watering in the morning so the foliage dries quickly. You may want to purchase healthy transplants grown locally instead of growing from seed.

When watering your garden, avoid wetting the plants. Try watering the soil only. Drip irrigation or a soaker hose can be an efficient way to water your garden.

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