Rust can be a difficult problem to deal with in the vegetable garden, especially when there are warm, moist conditions which create a perfect micro-climate for the disease. It can also affect a wide range of other plants, including herbs such as chives, as well as garlic, roses and some fruit trees.

How to reduce rust in the vegetable garden

• Check your crops regularly for early signs of rust, which usually shows up as small orange or yellow spots on the leaves. The earlier you act, the better your chances of slowing it down.
• Grow your vegetables in an open spot with good air movement and rotate crops each year rather than planting the same things in the same place.
• When planting seedlings, leave a little more space between them than usual so air can move freely around the plants. This is especially important for leafy crops such as silverbeet and spinach.
• At the first sign of infection, remove affected lower leaves, as these are often the first to show symptoms.

Good garden hygiene matters

• Clear away dead leaves, diseased plant material and weeds promptly, and do not add infected material to the compost bin as it may carry fungal disease back into the garden later.
• Try to water the soil rather than the leaves, as wet foliage can encourage rust and other fungal problems. 
• Apply a layer of mulch around the base of plants to help reduce soil splash, which may carry spores up onto the leaves.
• Keep on top of weeds as soon as they appear, as they can also harbour pests and disease.