Beetle Damage Or Leaf Spot

This type of damage could be a night feeding beetle or the same fungal damage you see on other leaves. Fungal damage mimics insect damage because once the fungus kills leaf tissue it browns and falls away from the leaf, making it look like the leaf has been chewed. Unfortunately it’s hard to tell the difference and it could be either (or both…it’s a jungle out there!) because at the same time the leaf spot is showing up the Japanese and Asiatic garden beetles are actively munching on plants.

To tell if it’s beetles, go out in the evening or after dark with a flashlight. Dusting the plant with diatomaceous earth (garden grade, available at your local garden center – don’t use the stuff for swimming pools) can help organically protect the plants from beetles, earwigs, slugs and other creepy crawlies.

Use a copper or sulfur fungicide for organic fungal control if the problem continues. Water deeply less often – don’t hand water (too shallow) and don’t splash the foliage if you can help it. Soaker hoses are a good way to water veggie gardens deeply without splashing foliage.