Powdery Mildew ????

[alan529]

Hi,,,,Can you help,,,2 years ago i had powdery Mildew on my Viola,s & Cucumbers,,,non what so ever last year ,,,but this year it seems to be coming back again,,,,is it somthing i am doing wrong which causes it,,?,,or is it an airborne fungus,,,what is the best way to get rid of it ,,,,can anyone help me please,,,,,? I look forward to your replies,,,,many thanks in advance,,,,!

[pipkins]

I have found this

If you are seeing powdery-looking patches on the foliage of your plants, you most likely have a case of the very common powdery mildew fungal disease. Here is a simple spray for controlling the spread of the fungus. It won't get rid of the fungus on leaves that already have it, but it will prevent it from spreading to the rest of the plant.
Ingredients:

•1 gallon of water
•1 tablespoon of baking soda
•1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
•1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid
Mix the ingredients together and add them to a spray bottle. Spray your plants weekly, preferably on overcast days to prevent it from burning the foliage.

Or you can use 1 part skimmed milk to 9 parts water.

Hope this helps

[Lotsaveg]

I find it's so much easier spraying everything that's susceptible to mildew and small horticultural pests (aphids, whitefly, spider mites etc.) with a weekly dose of SB Plant Invigorator. I've found this saves so much time and worry about checking for the appearance of these problems.

[Florence Fennel]

I'm using Pipkins recipe this year. Courgettes always get this in my garden! It's nothing you are doing wrong Alan and once it's on the leaves you can't get rid of it. Preventative measures are the way!

[Vagetarian]

From what I've read, it's recently been proven by agricultural universities in America that a milk solution is as effective as (or more effective than) commercial fungicides for treating mildew. Try 10:1 water:milk.

[Aberdeenplotter]

From what I've read, it's recently been proven by agricultural universities in America that a milk solution is as effective as (or more effective than) commercial fungicides for treating mildew. Try 10:1 water:milk.

use full cream milk, jersey if available and spray on neat. If your sprayer clogs, give it a rinse through with hot water then start spraying again.

[Florence Fennel]

I take it you've done this AP and it works? It would be lovely to avoid the patterned leaves on my courgettes this year!

[Hillwalker]

This thread's reminded me to post my GreenCure results. In the meantime, if you want to try Pipkins' posted recipe, substitute potassium bicarbonate for baking powder, it's far more effective. Baking powder has this, but in a low amount).

[Florence Fennel]

Where do you buy your potassium bicarbonate Hillwalker? I've just spoken to a pharmacist who says it is very expensive.

[Hillwalker]

Hi Florence,

You can get it from ebay for £2.40/250g: potassium bicarbonate | eBay UK

[Florence Fennel]

Interesting thank you HW. As a preparation for patient consumption, it's a whole lot more expensive than that, but the comparison stops there!

[Hillwalker]

Interesting thank you HW. As a preparation for patient consumption, it's a whole lot more expensive than that, but the comparison stops there!

Puzzled by your reply, Florence? The link I gave is for food grade potassium bicarbonate.

If you mean as an ingredient in a medical preparation, such as Gaviscon, then yes, the preparation will be more expensive. However, it's not a preparation that is required or desired, just the potassium bicarbonate.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I take it you've done this AP and it works? It would be lovely to avoid the patterned leaves on my courgettes this year!

Works like magic

[taff]

it could be botrytis if your cucumbers are indoors, my father has some on his, if it is, cut off the worst leaves, then make sure there's a good throughput of air.