Feel the Bern...I mean....burn

[Triloba Tracker]

My veggie/fruit garden is plagued with every kind of disease known to man, it seems.

Literally every plant I have, from tomatoes to melons, has one or more diseases. My cucurbit plants are the most affected, but really everything has something.

Things are still producing (except for several tomatoes that were felled by disease) but clearly they are not happy.

So I was thinking of burning the whole area - the beds and the "yard" around it - to hopefully knock back the disease and also the chiggers that make going back to the garden a pain in the rear, literally.

Anyone have experience with controlled yard or garden burns that can offer advice or suggestions? I've already done some research but I always like to hear from folks here.

[horseshoe_bayou]

never done a big burn like that, but maybe a torch will help?? I got one from harbor freight that I use from time to time on weeds.http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=propane+torch

[Triloba Tracker]

never done a big burn like that, but maybe a torch will help?? I got one from harbor freight that I use from time to time on weeds.http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=propane+torch

Thanks! Yes, I have been eyeing one of those suckers too.

[stuartdaly88]

I was told you shouldnt put cigarette ash near tomato because it can spread a kind of tobacco virus this made me think that burning could spread viruses better as ash is so light?

[Don]

Burn in small sections. Once you have cleared your patch it may be a wise idea to rest the beds, if you havnt got anything for the diseases to survive on they die out and then practice crop rotation. If you plant same species or similar species in the same spot season after season you will get a build up of disease in the soil. Hope this helps.

[Triloba Tracker]

Burn in small sections. Once you have cleared your patch it may be a wise idea to rest the beds, if you havnt got anything for the diseases to survive on they die out and then practice crop rotation. If you plant same species or similar species in the same spot season after season you will get a build up of disease in the soil. Hope this helps.

Yes, thanks!!
I will definitely be rotating in the future. Also was contemplating taking next summer off too.