downey mildew and impatiens?

[grannysmith]

Hi all

My impatiens have really struggled this summer and I have lost about three quarters of them. I know it's been wet, but I just read in the news that apparently a new strain of downey mildew may be to blame, since it hit impatiens hard all over the country.

Any ideas of how to stop this? I plant them every year, but the last two summers in particular have really been hard on them. They are in a sunny, open area and previously they have always thrived.

I have a dog and two kids, so I'd rather stay away from heavy chemicals in the garden if possible. Anything organic? Any other cures?

Thanks very much in advance!

[Alice]

Welcome to the Vine Grannysmith. Like you I've never had a problem with Impatiens - even in some pretty wet summers. I didn't grow any this year so don't know if anything has changed.
I wouldn't be willing to use chemical sprays just to grow a particular flower. If there was a problem I'd just change to something else.
Begonia Semperflorens does well - hail, rain or shine.

[grannysmith]

Thanks Alice!

Nice to meet you. I'll consider Begonias if the summers don't improve and things stay wet and humid. All the same, I'd prefer to keep the impatiens if possible, but I'm not sure how serious a problem this new strain of downey mildew is. Maybe it was just a bad year for impatiens.