18 Problems Faced by Gardeners and How to Fix Them Naturally

Before getting too excited, remember that every gardener and farmer, new or experienced, faces problems.

Gardening can be a rewarding hobby or business venture. Many people also prefer to grow vegetables and fruits in their backyards.

But if you’re having gardening challenges, you’re not alone. Below are some common vegetable garden problems and solutions that might help:

1. Pests Destroying Plants

Garden pests pose the greatest challenge when cultivating vegetables and other crops. These pests include tomato hornworms, cabbage worms, stink bugs, slugs, aphids, ants, and grubs.

If you have garden pests lurking around, you can try some organic methods for getting rid of harmful insects and related pests. These include soapy water, baking soda spray, diatomaceous earth, and neem oil.

You can also make use of pest-repelling plants.

2. Weeds

Gardeners also deal with weeds from time to time. Fortunately, there are a few natural ways to eliminate weeds from your garden.

For example, you can use newspaper and put organic mulch on top to hold it down. You could also pull weeds out by hand or use vinegar to kill the weeds, among other DIY methods.

3. Plants Not Growing in Soil

One major challenge many have encountered while planting is poor soil.

If your vegetable garden is dying or your crops are not growing properly, you might have major soil problems. All plants need healthy soil to thrive.

Mulch and organic compost are both great solutions to improving soil quality. Testing the soil to see what nutrients are missing is also a good idea.

pH (potential hydrogen) testing is also vital. You can buy an inexpensive soil pH testing kit for this purpose.

4. Seeds Not Sprouting

If your seeds have not sprouted, they may need more germination time. Also, ensure you plant seeds at the right time for your climate, and don’t hesitate to replant if needed.

Next, check the moisture level in the soil. If it’s too dry, give it some water. If it’s too wet, the seeds might have rotted, and replanting might also be necessary.

Birds could also be a problem. They might have eaten yours. In that case, replanting is necessary. To prevent this, consider using bird netting or covering the seeds with a container.

Lastly, remember to check the expiration dates on your seed packets. If you’re using seeds from a previous season, ensure they’re a year or two old at maximum.

As seeds age, their germination rate decreases. If you suspect your seeds are too old, it’s time to replant them with fresh ones.

5. Plant Disease

Diseases—from powdery mildew to bacterial canker—are among farmers’ plant problems [1]. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent plant diseases from occurring.

• Check your plants for diseases before you bring them home and plant them.
• Water plants in the morning to help keep them healthy.
• Water the soil, not the foliage.
• Control insects, as some insects can spread plant diseases.
• Space crops properly and practice crop rotation.
• Use organic fertilizers to boost plant immunity.

6. Blossom End Rot

This condition occurs mainly in tomato plants and is caused by calcium deficiency. It can happen with uneven soil moisture levels and the plant not taking up enough water and calcium.

To help fix blossom end rot, ensure your soil doesn’t dry out or get too much water.

You can also add crushed eggshells to the soil. They will supply your plants with calcium.

7. Plants Look Visibly Burnt

If your plants look burned or a bit dehydrated, they may be getting too much sun.

Try moving the plants if they’re in a container. If not, try using shade cloth throughout the garden.

Planting some shrubs and trees around the garden to help provide shade can also be a long-term solution.

8. Leaves Curling Up

If your plant’s leaves are distorted (curled or puckered), it might have wilt disease.

If you suspect this, remove the plant immediately. To help prevent this, practice crop rotation each year. Also, choose disease-resistant varieties when possible.

Mealybugs could also be the culprit. You can get rid of mealybugs organically by spraying the plant with insecticidal soap or neem oil.

You can read about other ways to deal with leaf curl in the linked article.

9. Brown Spots on Leaves

Typically, brown spots on leaves could be because of too much or too little watering, dry air, or too much sunlight.

Brown spots can also appear on leaves due to cold temperatures and, in some cases, a nutrient deficiency.

Try watering evenly. Also, plant crops in the right climate and use a balanced fertilizer.

10. White Spots on Leaves

When leaves are covered in a white, powdery coating, the most common culprit is powdery mildew. This is a fungal disease that affects many plants.

White spots can also appear when you have spider mites in the garden or insects such as whiteflies, aphids, or mealybugs.

Try a natural solution. Mix a gallon of lukewarm water with one teaspoon of organic liquid soap. Spray it on the plant leaves.

You can also purchase organic pesticides and fungicides to help deal with this plant issue.

11. Plants Not Producing Fruit

Crops failing to produce fruits is another of the major garden challenges.

If you have plants that aren’t producing fruit, you may have an issue where they need more nutrients. There may also be a need for more pollination.

Try pollinating the blossoms. This can be done with hand-pollination techniques [2].

You could also add some organic fertilizer to the soil around plant roots.

12. Not Enough Space

Another problem for farmers is land space. It’s always an issue for enthusiastic agriculturalists.

However, there’s a way to make plants grow in very little space: the container gardening method. Many vegetables, like kale and arugula, grow well in containers.

You can also make use of vertical gardening. Pumpkins, for example, can be planted in a pot and channeled to grow on a fence.

13. Plants Look Weak

If plants seem weak, you may have overwatered or underwatered them. They may also need more sunlight.

A lack of nutrients could also be an issue, as well as pest or disease problems.

Ensure that plants get 6 to 8 hours of sunlight during the day. Additionally, give plants the right amount of water as per the plant’s watering needs.

Watch out for pests and plant diseases, and fertilize with the right fertilizer.

14. Too Much or Too Little Sun

Each plant has its own daily sunlight requirement.

Tomatoes, for example, need more than 6 hours of direct sunlight to produce fruit. On the other hand, chervil needs as little as 4 hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive.

Reading the back of the seed packet is a good way to know which plant requires what amount of sunlight.

15. Plants Appear to be Wilting

If your plants appear to be wilting, they’re likely suffering from too little water. This happens when the roots aren’t providing enough moisture to the leaves and stems.

Wilting can often be fixed by adjusting the amount of water you’re giving crops. If the soil feels dry, water a bit more.

16. Black Spots on Leaves

This is another common one, especially in climates that tend to be hot and humid. The black spot fungus usually causes black spots on leaves, also known as Diplocarpon rosae [3].

You can treat this problem with organic fungicides such as these.

17. Plants Don’t Seem to be Growing

Nothing is more frustrating than starting a garden only to find your plants aren’t growing.

Often, this is caused by improper soil preparation. The roots can’t get enough nutrients and oxygen. It could also be a result of overwatering or underwatering.

Make sure the soil is appropriately tilled. This will help the plants spread their roots.

Also, understand your plant’s watering requirements and supply the proper nutrients.

18. Holes in Plant Leaves

This is most likely caused by pests eating the leaves. Plant pests such as slugs, snails, beetles, caterpillars, and even birds may be causing those holes in plant leaves.

Therefore, inspect leaves properly and put measures in place to get rid of plant pests.

Takeaway

A garden can thrive when cared for properly. We all face plant troubles occasionally; it happens to the best gardeners.

So, check for the common issues listed above. Fix them as soon as you see the signs. The tips here will help you get most of your gardening problems answered.