Avoid broad insecticides; they kill mite predators and can start an outbreak.
Organic options
Hose leaf undersides hard, often.
Insecticidal soap or horticultural oil on leaf undersides, repeated as the label allows.
Release predatory mites once pest mites are present.
Conventional options
Same as organic. Broad insecticides often make mites worse.
Bee caution: Don't spray open flowers. Spray in the late evening, when bees aren't flying.
Photo: “Aphids on Kale leaf” by Sanjay Acharya, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped). The cropped version is shared under the same licence.
AphidsPest
What you'll see: Clusters of small, soft-bodied green, black or gray insects on new shoots and under leaves. Leaves curl, and a sticky film may coat them.
Prevent
Check leaf undersides each week; a few aphids do little harm.
Pull nearby weeds, such as wild mustards, that feed aphids.
Grow flowers for lady beetles, lacewings and hover flies, and avoid broad sprays that kill them.
Organic options
Knock aphids off with a strong spray of water.
Insecticidal soap or horticultural oil on leaf undersides, repeated as the label allows.
Neem oil, or OMRI Listed pyrethrins (without piperonyl butoxide).
Conventional options
Malathion or permethrin, if the crop is on the label. These also kill the insects that eat aphids.
Bee caution: Don't spray open flowers. Spray in the late evening, when bees aren't flying.
WhitefliesPest
What you'll see: Clouds of tiny white insects fly up when the plant is touched. Leaves yellow and may turn sticky.
Prevent
Inspect plants before you buy them.
Hang yellow sticky cards to watch numbers.
Avoid broad sprays that kill whitefly predators.
Organic options
Insecticidal soap or horticultural oil on leaf undersides; it gives short-term control.
Conventional options
Same as organic. Whiteflies are hard to control with insecticides, and broad sprays kill their natural enemies.
Bee caution: Don't spray open flowers. Spray in the late evening, when bees aren't flying.
What you'll see: Soft brown rot covered in fuzzy gray mold on fruit, flowers or leaves, or small sunken brown or gray spots near the base of shallot bulbs. It is worst in cool, wet weather.
Prevent
Mulch strawberries with straw so fruit does not touch damp soil.
Space plants for air flow and water at the base in the morning.
Go easy on nitrogen in spring.
Pick ripe fruit often and remove rotting fruit and dead flowers.
Organic options
Remove moldy fruit and plant parts. Organic sprays have little proof of working, so rely on the steps above.
Conventional options
Same as organic. In home gardens the steps above work best; fungicides are mainly for commercial growers.
Read and follow the product label: it is the law. It sets the rate, the crops it is for, and the days between spraying and picking. Products registered vary by state; for organic growing, look for products allowed under the USDA National Organic Program (OMRI Listed). We name active ingredients, not brands or rates.
The link opens this growing guide, so anyone can read it and look up their own planting dates.
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Sow
Sprout
True leaves
Thin or plant out
Leaf growth
Harvest
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