
Fungal pathogens: how to diagnose and protect your plants from them with Jennie Mazzone from Penn State Extension
Whether on the roots or aboveground, a lot of the pathogens we need to protect our plants from are fungi or water molds. In this interview with Penn State Extension Commercial Horticulture Educator Jennie Mazzone, we talk about how to diagnose infections caused by fungal pathogens and how to treat them. We also discuss the differences between fungi and water molds, why it matters and how these pathogens spread to your plants. Pathogens covered include late blight, Phytophthora capsici, downy mildew, pythium and more. We talk about how fungal spores are and aren’t comparable to seeds from plants. And perhaps most importantly, we discuss how to prevent fungal infections in the first place, and what to do to keep them from getting out of control if they show up on your plants. Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support: Tilth Soil makes living soils for organic growers. The base for all our mixes is NOP-compliant compost, made from the 4,000 tons of food scraps we divert from landfills each year. And the results speak for themselves. Get excellent germination, strong transplants, and help us turn these resources back into food. Try a free bag and learn more at tilthsoil.com/gfm. Nifty Hoops builds complete gothic high tunnels that are easy to install and built to last. Their bolt-together construction makes setup straightforward and efficient, whether it's a small backyard hoophouse, or a dozen large production-scale high tunnels- especially through their community build option, where professional builders work alongside your crew, family, or neighbors to build each structure -- usually in a single day. Visit niftyhoops.com to learn more. If you grow for market, you know performance is everything. That’s why so many farmers are turning to Burpee’s Farmers Market . Dedicated to professional growers, Burpee is now offering non-GMO seeds in larger quantities – bred and selected for standout flavor, strong yields, and the kind of visual appeal your customers crave. Burpee’s been doing this for 150 years, and they’re still creating new varieties with growers like you in mind. You can check out the full lineup at Burpee.com/FarmersMarket . Farmhand is the all-in-one platform built for direct-market farms — CSA, farmers market, and farmstand growers who'd rather be in the field than juggling five different apps. Online store and subscriptions, delivery and pickup routing, SMS and email marketing, waitlist management, and now farm events: sell tickets to u-picks, tours, dinners, and workshops in minutes, with capacity caps, QR check-in, and SMS/email confirmations built in. Every ticket also puts a name, email, and phone on a list you keep. See how farmers are growing direct-to-consumer sales and set up a free account at farmhand.partners/gfm For more on veg and flower market farming, subscribe to Growing for Market Magazine!










