What Is Wrong With My Common Vetch?

Do the leaves have small circular or irregularly shaped dry spots which are gray to straw in color?

Do the older leaves have a papery texture and fuzzy mold on their underside, young leaves are drying up and dropping off?

Are the leaves covered with white powder?

Are the plants rapidly wilting and dying, often without turning yellow, small black fungal bodies may be present on the surface of the root just below the soil line?

Are the flowers covered with gray mold?

Are the leaves yellowing, wilting and, dying?

These symptoms indicate a fungal disease - Anthracnose. Keep plants dry when watering to prevent spread. Spray plants with copper if you have had problems in the past. Apply copper fungicide early in the season.

These symptoms indicate a fungal disease - Downy mildew. Remove and destroy all affected plant parts and encourage good air circulation around plants. Water plants early in the morning to make sure they dry before nightfall.

White, powdery patches on the leaves are caused by a fungal disease Powdery mildew. Powdery mildew usually appears in damp places. Encourage good air circulation around the affected plants by thining them and any surrounding plants. Water plants from below to keep foliage dry. Any affected leaves should be cut off and removed. The appropriate fungicidal spray will protect your plant from further infections.

Sclerotinia stem rot (white mold) is a fungal disease that causes these symptoms. Wet weather conditions favor this disease. The disease is usually introduced to non-infected areas by infected seeds. Plant only certified seed. If the disease is known to present rotate crops with non-hosts such as cereals.

Likely cause for these symptoms is a fungal disease - Botrytis blight. Other symptoms include brown to black spots that may appear on leaves and petals. You can only prevent Botrytis blight disease by planting in areas with good air circulation. Water plants sparsely. Infected plants should be removed. Spray weekly with a copper fungicide until the disease is under control.

Yellow leaves that wilt and die usually indicate Root rot disease. Poorly drained, overly wet soil promotes rot so choose well-drained sites and add organic matter to improve drainage. Remove and destroy infected plants. Solarize the soil before replanting.

Yellow, stunted plants and roots that have swollen galls indicate root-knot nematodes. Other symptoms are plants wilting during bright, hot days. Prevent root-knot nematodes by applying chitin or introducing parasitic nematodes to the soil before planting. Solarizing the soil also helps in preventing root-knot nematodes.