Powdery Mildew - Who Knew?

The great thing about being a vegetable gardener is that you are always learning something new. It can come from experience, classes, the Internet, or articles and books.

Most of us grow zucchini or other squash. Inevitably we get powdery mildew on the leaves, sometimes to the extent that the plants fail. I always thought the powdery mildew came from dampness. But no, powdery mildew is one of the few fungi that does not like moisture! I just learned this at my monthly meeting of the City Slicker Farms backyard garden program.

Here is the treatment and prevention of powdery mildew:

• Plant resistant cultivars and make sure there is room for good air circulation.
• Spray the foliage of your plants daily with water — powdery mildew does NOT like water! Make sure to do it early in the day so it can dry out before the evening or you will make your plants susceptible to other fungal diseases.
• Remove and destroy infected leaves. Do not put them in your compost or it will spread!
• At the first signs of infection, spray the unaffected leaves weekly with a baking soda and water solution to protect against further damage: one tablespoon of baking soda to a gallon of water.
• Apply a milk and water solution to the leaves (1/2 cup milk to 2 cups water. When exposed to sunlight, the milk will temporarily become a disinfectant and kill spores.
• Badly infected plants should be ripped out completely.
• Horticultural oil also works for treatment and prevention

Bill