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Step 1
Prepare the soil early in the season. It's important to destroy plant residue from previous growing seasons because it may be harboring diseases that can harm this season's crop.
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Step 2
Choose the right plants for the right soil. Some plants are just naturally more resistant to insects, fungus and all the other poor growing conditions. Read plant labels.
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Step 3
Plant cleaned seed. Use clean potting mix. Don't just move a problem from one area of the garden to the other. Prevent the diseases from past growing seasons from spreading.
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Step 4
Rotate crops each growing season. Most insects have a specific type of plant they attack. Any insects that remain in the soil probably don't survive with a different crop.
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Step 5
Control the weeds. Pull or hoe any weeds you see before the weeds have a chance to grow. It's also a good idea to put down mulch to retard weed growth.
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Step 6
Fertilize your plants with the right fertilizer for the soil and plant. This cultivates a healthier plant. A healthy plant has cell walls that are strong and can help prevent infections.
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Step 7
Remove damaged plants, or at least cut them back. Any place that a plant has an open "wound" is a source of possible infection.
