Mosaic Virus in Garden Plants: How to Identify, Prevent, and Control

My infected tomatoes and peppers (mosaic virus) are all grown in pots, and irrigated via drip irrigation. 1. Am I correct in assuming that, since my tools need disinfection (my hands!), that I will have to toss out my SOIL and disinfect or replace my irrigation lines and drips? Will soap and water suffice for the pots and drips? 2. My herbs (basil and mint) grew side-by-side with my tomatoes and peppers. Should I be treating them the same? I'm assuming so (but don't know), because I don't think that aphids, etc., are non-migratory... Thanks! Roland

Is it not possible for plants to become infected without ever seeing an aphid? Does it not blow in the wind, or transmit by other insects?

The TMV (tobacco mosaic virus) transmits extremely easily, so to your second question, yes, treat all of your plants, especially those that are/were side-by-side with the tomatoes and peppers.

About your first question...yes, toss out your soil and all tools should be washed. If your drip irrigation equipment cam in contact with the infected plants or soil, it should be washed.

If my plant has been infected is the food edible still or not?

We suggest that when in doubt, throw it out, especially if the harvested part is a part that is directly affected, such as leaves. If fruit shows no blemishes, it might be OK to eat it, even if the rest of the plant shows symptoms. Some diseases only cause cosmetic damage to the fruit, not internal, and would be fine to eat. Others, though, that attack the interior of the fruit will likely, at the very least, affect quality and flavor. Most plant diseases are not transferable to humans. Some bacteria, etc., are, however, or some fungi, although not harmful directly, can produce compounds that are. If a plant is weakened, secondary infections may also arise.

It appears my garden has the Tomato/cucumber virus. It started on my cucumber mottled marks on leaves, that eventually dry out. The cucumber started fruiting early and I have 2 nice cucumbers but the new growth flowers and then the new fruit goes nowhere. I have lots of new growth, but the leaves dont last long. My tomatoes have been loaded with fruit. I have been enjoying beautiful cherry tomatoes for about 2 weeks. Last week I noticed a few spots on the leaves and then almost overnight the plants are covered. I am still getting ripening tomatoes but the leaves themselves are almost all brown. My peppers are at the other end of the garden and are starting to show some spots of yellow. The peppers are bountiful and starting to ripen. I live in Central Florida and am gardening in Straw Bales. Because I garden in my backyard I have one long row of plants. Tomatoes, cucumbers, Green beans. peppers (with herbs in between), The only thing not showing leaf distress are the green beans. I have used Neem oil to control insects as well as ladybugs. The only insect I have found was the squash vine borer in my zucchini. All the infected plants were removed. I have not seen aphids. After days of research, it seems like my garden is done for now. I will remove all the plants, straw bales, and ground cover. My question would be concerning the metal poles, tomato cages, wire trellis, drip lines and garden equipment. Can everything be disinfected with bleach water? I read one suggestion of covering everything with liquid milk. The garden area is between a wooden fence and the house, do I need to bleach these down too? Can I clean the area and work on a new garden in the fall or maybe even some summer crops or are my backyard garden days over?

Viruses enter through wounds - such as feeding insects, pruned stems, etc. Some can also travel via infected seeds. If your tomato/cucumber has cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), this is spread by aphids and by contaminated tools, etc. Clean your tools regularly with a 10-percent bleach solution (cleaning your wire cages, poles, trellis, and other equipment might be helpful as well before next growing season, but you don't need to do the fence or house) and use row covers to discourage insects from transmitting the disease to healthy plants. Wash hands often with soap and water. Destroy all infected plants (do not compost) and also remove weeds--many can harbor viruses, or attract insects that transmit them. Control aphids; silver-reflective mulches can help repel them. Choose cucumber resistant to CMV. Splash up from infected soil should be curbed by your straw bale method.

For other viruses, the same advice stands: disinfect your tools, or soak rowcovers in the 10 percent bleach solution. Choose resistant varieties, if available. Remove weeds. Remove any diseased plant promptly. Wash hands thoroughly before handling different plants. To avoid tobacco mosaic virus, do not use tobacco products near the garden. Rotate crops each year.

You should be able to still grow a garden each year if you keep up with these precautions. Most viruses are transmitted actively by a vector, mainly feeding insects, so if you control those, or prevent their damage, then you may be fine.

ALL I HAD IN MY GARDEN LAST YEAR WAS BEAUTIFUL BEAN VINES, BUT NO BEANS ON THEM THESE WERE HALF RUNNER BEANS FROM MAYO SEEDS?

Hi Gary,

You didn't mention if you had blooms. Bean blossoms will drop from the plant if the weather is too hot and too much nitrogen in the soil will prevent pods from setting. High humidity can also cause bloom drop. Go to our beans page at almanac.com/plant/beans for more information about growing and caring for bean plants.

I'm having a real bad start to spring! I had bought Merical Grow Organic planting items, several differant things made by them. I then attempted to start everything by Certified organic seed, I planted the seeds in an eggshell to get really healthy strong roots, peppers were planted with 2 match sticks and fetilizer, peas were planted in the potting soil mix. Well ending result to this was alot of little knats on the pepper pods and the peas took off in 2 days, sprouted and then turned yellow then died. I then called a nursery to see if they sold Certified Organic plants, I was told yes and went to get them brought them home found out they were NOT Certified at all! They may have been Organic but they were not Certified anyhow come to find out the strawberry p[lants had aphids and the leaves on the peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and cucumbers all had signs of discolored yellow leaves, drying fron tip of leaf and leaves curling downward, I had planted one of the strawberry plants in a 5 gallon self watering bucket, planted banana pieces into soil 2" down and aphids up and left shop. I had cut most of the bad leaves off the tomatoes, peppers are wilting in seedling pots, broccoli is inside under grow lights with most of the peppers and a few tomato plants, the cucumbers and a few tomatoe plants are outside. The only plant that is planted is the one Fresca strawberry plant, I live in zone 3 in MD and the weather here is crazy nice one day, snow, rain and cold another, I am doing self watering, planting by the moon and loosing my mind with the plants that i bought. HELP!!! ANYONE!