White powder on red currant bush

[rodofgod76]

Our red currant has developed patches of a white powdery substance on it's leaves. The affected ones seem to be curling themselves upside down. Is this powdery mildew?? If so, how do I get rid?

[FB.]

Sounds like powdery mildew.
It tends to be encouraged by lack of watering, but humid conditions. Different varieties have different ability to resist the infection and some are so susceptible that they will get mildew not matter what you do - unless you spray.
The best control is to prune out the infected shoots as soon as seen, taking care not to scatter too much of the white powder (infectious spores), otherwise it can rapidly spread via the airborne spores. Older leaves tend to be more resistant. Young leaves are most susceptible. Some mildews can go dormant inside next years buds, so the infection can get much worse year after year. Eventually, with highly susceptible varieties, mildew can cause every shoot and every flower to emerge from the winter in a mildewed condition - and mildewed flowers often won't produce fruit.

Chemical (fungicide) sprays are available, but I think that for best results, they need to be done on a regular routine from the start of the growing season.

I live in a veyr mildew-prone area, but I manage good control of mildew on my fruits by choosing resistant varieties and pruning out mildewed shoots. I don't spray.

[crichmond]

I would also check the underside of the leaves for black fly, I get it every year.
If you have it then snip off the affected tips and either burn them or squish the flies.