Most crop losses don't start with a dead plant — they start with a single leaf you ignored. Here are three symptoms that signal trouble early:

1. Yellow Halos Around Brown Spots

This usually means bacterial leaf blight. It spreads fast in humid conditions. If you catch it within the first 48 hours, pruning affected leaves and improving airflow can stop it from taking your whole bed.

2. White Powdery Coating on Upper Leaves

Classic powdery mildew. Thrives in warm days + cool nights. A diluted neem oil spray works as both treatment and prevention — apply in the evening to avoid leaf burn.

3. Curling Leaves with Tiny Dots Underneath

Flip the leaf over. If you see tiny moving dots, you've got spider mites. Blast them off with water first, then follow up with insecticidal soap every 3 days for two weeks.

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The pattern: Early detection = easy fix. Late detection = lost harvest.

We built Farmical to make early detection automatic — point your phone at a leaf and get an instant AI diagnosis with treatment steps. Free tier available for backyard growers.