|
Post by txdirtdog on May 21, 2011 14:03:41 GMT -5
Well, for the last 3 or 4 years, powdery mildew has been an issue in my garden for cukes (first, hardest and fastest hit) and squash.
Since we have been in drought conditions, it hasn't appeared yet, but I'm pretty sure its just a matter of time.
What do you do to control PM?
|
|
|
Post by txdirtdog on May 28, 2011 14:10:03 GMT -5
Bumping this up. Despite drought and soaker hose watering, PM is showing up on some of the squash plants just from overnight dew.
|
|
littleminnie
Pro Member
Gardening should be fun.
Posts: 264
Joined: February 2011
|
Post by littleminnie on May 28, 2011 19:14:01 GMT -5
I grow resistant varieties. When it comes to summer squash they will always get it for me when we get a lot of late summer rain. I use a fungicide and fish emulsion, water from the ground, leave plenty of room between plants... and they get it when the weather is wet anyway. I love Romulus zuc, Maestro pea, super snugar snap pea and not sure about cuc. I am trying super zagross this year but we'll see.
|
|
|
Post by izitmidnight on May 28, 2011 23:02:58 GMT -5
Hey, I've two solutions for you. On my melons, cukes, squash and zinnias, I use 4TBS of baking soda to 1 gal of warm water with a touch of soap to help it stick. On my perenial flowers, I use a chamomile tea (strong) 4 tea bags to 1 qt of boiling water with a little soap to aid in sticking.
Hope this helps. I spray about once a week.
Someone else will probably have a better solution.
|
|
|
Post by txdirtdog on May 29, 2011 6:59:25 GMT -5
Thanks Minnie, but I like my patty-pans' flavor. I can see for market it would be critical to grow resistant varieties.
Thank you izit, I'll give the baking soda a shot.
|
|
littleminnie
Pro Member
Gardening should be fun.
Posts: 264
Joined: February 2011
|
Post by littleminnie on May 29, 2011 22:23:30 GMT -5
BTW all varieties I mentioned are OP. For squash, the thinner and frillier the leaf the less likely it is to get PM. I find it is better for me to do this to a zuc that broke out in PM: hill up with compost, trim off real bad outer leaves, spray with fish emulsion and a fungicide, but the fungicide doesn't do much. When new leaves grow back they are fine. I grow chamomile all over the place to be able to make tea but then I don't do it that often.
|
|
|
Post by txdirtdog on May 30, 2011 22:28:02 GMT -5
Good tip for zukes Minnie. Thank you.
|
|
|
Post by txdirtdog on Jun 7, 2011 21:29:19 GMT -5
Well, I finally applied the baking soda solution today. Once I got in and spraying, I realized the PM was more widespread than I first thought. Ended up using 2 gallons of solution.
As of this evening, Everything looked much better. I'll keep an eye on it, and probably reapply in a few days.
Thanks Izit!
I'll update as we progress.
|
|
|
Post by stratcat on Jun 7, 2011 22:02:37 GMT -5
Year's ago I came on a recipe like Izit's 1st one that also included Skim milk with the baking soda and soap. For the life of me, I can't find it now.
Good luck, tdd!
|
|
|
Post by txdirtdog on Jun 7, 2011 23:04:03 GMT -5
Thanks Strat. I would assume in the recipe you have that the baking soda "attacks" the current active PM and the skim milk acts as a preventative to keep PM from getting a foothold on uninfected leaves. Never thought about putting the 2 together before. I bet when you find the recipe, the milk dillution will be 10%. Seems to be the most common ratio I've seen. I just never start spraying the milk-only remedy early enough. If the baking soda only solution doesn't seem to be holding the PM back by itself, I may try mixing the 2 together. First impression on the baking soda only is hopeful.
|
|
|
Post by txdirtdog on Jul 19, 2011 23:38:25 GMT -5
I've been remiss in updating my results. The baking soda solution did have a very beneficial effect. There has still been some PM persistent, but very little. I did not have to re-apply yet. I think the drought has been helpful in this arena. Since we are now getting some rain, I'll have to watch it closer. The main plant at this point that is showing PM is an Armenian cucumber, but its growth rate is such that the PM can't keep pace with it. I've actually had to spend more of my time addressing SVB eggs and stink/leaf-foot bugs than worrying about PM. Thank you izit for making my life easier.
|
|
Durgan
Pro Member
Posts: 113
Joined: October 2011
|
Post by Durgan on Nov 11, 2011 6:43:51 GMT -5
Well, for the last 3 or 4 years, powdery mildew has been an issue in my garden for cukes (first, hardest and fastest hit) and squash. Since we have been in drought conditions, it hasn't appeared yet, but I'm pretty sure its just a matter of time. What do you do to control PM? I am of the opinion that little that is really effective can be done. Of course, not wetting the foliage when watering is a must, but you cannot control overhead rain. Putting in two patches of cucumber separated as much as possible will probably give you a reasonable crop. Some of the ground vining crops are immune selected by trial. It sure is frustrating to see your cucumbers suddenly almost disappear before your eyes.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2011 7:01:23 GMT -5
I don't know if this will help cucumbers, but I use a little powdered milk in with the baking soda, it works on the wild rose bush we have!
|
|