potato blight................milk treatment???

[greenishfing]

I've just received Suttons seed catalogue and they say a treatment of a mix of one part semi-skimmed milk to seven parts water sprayed on top growth weekly is an effective preventative treatment for potato blight. Has anyone tried it?

[bearded bloke]

I believe it is used on tomato plants to combat mosaic virus,so maybe it works given spuds are the same family

[WendyC]

Bordeaux mixture works, I believe, by coating the leaves so the spores can't make contact with the leaves. Perhaps in this case it is the milk protein or fat which acts as a barrier. Only guessing!

[Bigmallly]

Diluted milk is used on Cucs & Courgettes to combat powdery mildew. Not heard of it been used against blight but you learn something new everyday............

[Aberdeenplotter]

Diluted milk is used on Cucs & Courgettes to combat powdery mildew. Not heard of it been used against blight but you learn something new everyday............

The supposed remedy for powdery mildew needs full cream milk though. I think the idea is that the cream/grease clogs up the stomata/pores and prevents the fungus entering. I've never heard of it being used for spuds either but that is maybe because treating a bed full of spuds might need a herd of cows whereas a cue would only need a glass full

[bearded bloke]

I been gurgling & found ................

The biggest problem gardeners have is the battle against pests and diseases - we all like to have a great harvest and don't like the thought that sharing with insects, or losing out to diseases is going to compromise that. The Nelson District Council put out an amazing bible for urban gardening and in that was some of the best natural sprays for all manner of pests and diseases

............

Milk Spray
Checks virus diseases like tomato mosaic and kills red spider mites, caterpillars and tomato worms.
Ingredients:
Milk /Sour milk (straight from the bottle or cow)
Nine parts of water Dilute milk with water.

And ...........

Onion Spray
Spray several times for blight on potatoes and tomatoes, for apple scab, curly leaf of peach trees, powdery mildew, aphids and red spider mites.
Ingredients:
Onions
Double the amount of water as onions.
Grind onions alone or with chives and/or onion tops in a blender, then simmer the ingredients in water for two hours.

[veggiechicken]

It would be a way of using up sour milk - as I always seem to have some in the fridge Before you ask why - I don't drink it but buy some in when I know someone's coming round for coffee - the rest just sits there and becomes stinky

[bearded bloke]

I'm a plank forgot the link to the last post ^^ quotes,Doh anyhoo better late than ........


The Garden Pantry - Recipes for natural sprays

[bearded bloke]

That site may be worth book marking the is loads of stuff on it,like the companion planting chart ...

[veggiechicken]

Its a really good site, BB, lots of useful stuff. Thanks

[poly]

The Garden Pantry - Recipes for natural sprays

Thanks for the link, like the sound of the Garlic spray to kill wireworm

[Bigmallly]

Great link BB, if you find owt to rid ants, give me a shout.

[bearded bloke]

Have you tried spraying them with vinegar water BM ? IIRC that was my dads favourite way