Planting date can affect many crop diseases; early planting increases the risk of seedling disease and some other soilborne pathogens, but for some diseases there is a risk of greater yield loss with late planting. Increased risks associated with late planting occur because plants are at an earlier growth stage at the onset of disease. Plants infected earlier in their development suffer greater yield reductions. It can pay to be aware of how specific diseases are affected by planting date.