More Carrot Leaf Diseases

A number of diseases target the leaves of the carrot plant. Here are the three most important ones found in South Africa, as well as how to prevent or treat them.

- Bill Kerr

POWDERY MILDEW

This is no stranger to carrot growers. Unlike other carrot leaf diseases, it does not require free water on the leaf surface to develop. This is also true of other genera of powdery mildew on other crops.

Powdery mildew thrives under warm, dry conditions. It starts on the outer leaves, gradually spreading until the entire plant is affected.

I have often come across infected lands where the farmer has decided not to spray for the disease as the roots are already fully developed and harvesting is not far off.

The problem with this approach is that the disease reduces the sugar content of the roots, so the carrots will not taste as good as they should.