Although mint has a natural resilience, it is not completely immune to disease. The following lines explain how the symptoms manifest themselves and with which means the plant can be cured.

Mint rust - diagnosis and treatment at a glance

Within the large genus of rust fungi, one species has specialized in infesting mints. Puccinia Menthae spores are active throughout the growing season, with warm, humid weather increasing the risk of infection. Symptoms are expressed in the form of brown spots on the leaves and withering shoots. Since the use of chemical preparations does not make sense, the following natural control methods can be considered:

  • Cut back all shoots close to the ground
  • the mint will sprout healthy again from at least one leaf node
  • dispose of the clippings in household waste or burn them

As a result, the bed is repeatedly poured with field horsetail broth to strengthen the new shoots.

Powdery mildew on mint - this increases the chances of healing

Mildew spores are ubiquitous in the herb garden. As soon as temperatures rise in early summer, the disease spreads. In the early stages, a mealy-white patina appears on the top and bottom of the foliage. As the disease progresses, the surface turns dirty-brown, the leaves wither and fall off. Thanks to mint's vigour, the chances of a cure are good. How to proceed:

  • Cut out infected leaves at an early stage
  • spray the diseased mint with milk-water in a ratio of 1:9
  • Alternatively, make a broth from 1 clove of garlic and serve
  • if in doubt, cut off the entire plant to just above the ground

It is important to note that liquid agents are always sprayed on the underside and top of the leaves. Extend treatment to neighboring plants because powdery mildew spores are not fussy. The clippings have no place in the compost, because from here the pathogens immediately start looking for other victims.

tips and tricks

If dark brown to black spots appear on the mint leaves in connection with aphids and hordes of ants, it is a case of sooty mold. The lice serve as transmitters of the disease, so that only a two-pronged control is possible. In view of the high effort involved, we recommend cutting back the entire mint immediately in this case.

GTH

Category:

Vegetable garden