Fungus in the garden can cause a large amount of frustration for people. In the past, individuals often had to result to using toxic chemicals to treat their fungus problems. Now though, there is a solution for fungus that is totally natural- cornmeal.

Cornmeal can be purchased from most garden centers and feed stores in large 25-pound bags. Cornmeal actually controls fungus more efficiently than any of the toxic chemical pesticides you can purchase.

Cornmeal can be used for root or soil borne fungus problems at 10-20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Cornmeal fights disease in the soil by stimulating beneficial microorganisms that already exist that feed on pathogens like as rhizoctonia. Rhizoctonia is also known as brown patch found in St. Augustine. 

 Cornmeal used at around two pounds per one hundred squares can work on seedlings to stop damping off. Cornmeal is also useful in both food and ornamental crops on any fungal diseases that are soil borne.  Although you may only need to apply the cornmeal once, if you need to apply it more often that is fine. Numerous applications are okay because cornmeal acts as a slight organic fertilizer and soil builder.

To activate its fungus fighting abilities, cornmeal needs moisture. Rain however will not harm the cornmeal’s ability to be effective. This is because like all other organic products, cornmeal is not water-soluble.

It is essential to know that cornmeal will only work in an organic program. If toxic chemical products are used, any benefits from the cornmeal will be gone.

To prepare your plant beds use a wheat bran cornmeal soil amendment with molasses. The product should be used at 10-50-lbs/100 sq ft. This will provide a source of nutrients, organic matter and a natural disease control. This mix can be used as the main preparation material for your plant bed. To create your own version of this product at home, use 65% wheat bran, 35% horticultural cornmeal and 10% dry molasses.

Use Horticulture Cornmeal as an efficient method for controlling of disease. If root and soil borne fungal diseases are your problem, use the mixture at 10-20 pounds per 1,000 square feet.

At a research station, researchers became aware that a peanut crop that was planted after a crop of corn, did not suffer from the typical diseases caused by fungus. More research showed that cornmeal has helpful organisms that were as efficient as the typical chemical fungicides. For some reason, cornmeal attracts one of the members of the fungus family Trichoderma. This is a good fungus that thwarts diseases caused by fungus in a few weeks.

Cornmeal is useful on pretty much everything from turf grasses to black spot on roses.

It can also safely be used on crops that are edible because it is a totally organic material.

Using cornmeal on your garden crops is very easy. If you are using the cornmeal dry, simply work two pounds of cornmeal into the soil for approximately every 100 square feet. Water the soil very well to activate the cornmeal’s fungus killing properties.

If you would rather use a spray, you can create a great liquid product at home with cornmeal. You can make what is known as cornmeal juice by soaking one cup of cornmeal in one gallon of water. Allow the mixture to sit overnight and then strain the liquid and spritz on to any plants that are prone to fungus.

Any type of cornmeal is fine to use as a fungicide. You can use food grade cornmeal that can be purchased at your grocery store. However, the food grade cornmeal is more expensive and is only available in smaller amounts than the horticultural cornmeal. Horticultural cornmeal is typically used for feeding livestock. It however works well as a fungicide and can be purchased in bulk amounts.

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