Re: Powdery Mildew and SoCal Fall Planting

No_Such_Reality 10/5/2017, 10:15 am

sanderson wrote:I read a few articles and it seems that they are divided between composting affected plants and discarding them.

Sorry for the late reply, I'm just getting back on my feet from a three week stint of cold>flu>bronchitis and too many horse pills to remember. I knew there was a reason I hate taking my kid to the pediatric urgent care.

Interesting article from Cornell. https://grapesandwine.cals.cornell.edu/newsletters/appellation-cornell/2013-newsletters/issue-15/grapes-101

So I'd guess it depends on if you're hot composting or not and how diligent you are about pruning the infection and keeping it from reaching maturity and creating the spores that will relaunch when the weather warm.

I compost mine and I figure it doesn't matter as during PM season in SoCal you literally can drive down the street and see trees and people's roses covered in it.

**sanderson** 10/5/2017, 3:43 pm

NSR, I'm sorry you have been sick for so long. I also caught a cold that developed into bronchitis and was stuck indoors for 2 weeks until the antibiotics kicked in.

I'm at least 3 weeks late on the seedlings. They are maybe 2" tall now but no 2nd leaves. Embarassed

Today's chore is to pull down all the nasty cucumber, cantaloupe and winter squash vines.

countrynaturals 3/18/2018, 12:34 pm

Turan wrote:Squash are heavy feeders, so that is given as a reason to move their location. But the main reason given for rotation with squash and cucumbers is powdery mildew. That over winters in the soil. It spreads easily, so I don't know how much help rotation is in a small garden space. Definitely don't put infected leaves in the compost though. Your trellis growing is probably the best preventative anyways.

I copied this from an unrelated post, since it is such important info. thanks

Turan.

countrynaturals 3/25/2018, 11:56 am

I'm wondering if regular blowing with a fan or leaf-blower could prevent powdery mildew. Any thoughts?

**sanderson** 3/25/2018, 1:08 pm

Someone from a windy area might be able to answer that.

DorothyG 3/26/2018, 1:28 am

countrynaturals wrote:I'm wondering if regular blowing with a fan or leaf-blower could prevent powdery mildew. Any thoughts?

CN, we aren't the windiest area but we do get our share. I thought of the fan idea several years ago but it wasn't practical for us so didn't try it.

We had a lilac bush about 6 foot from the road edge that caught all kinds of breeze from the road and that didn't make a difference. I don't like to use chemicals but when I do I try to find one that is more natural.

The only thing I had any luck with was a liquid copper fungicide and I can say it did work great. Way better than I expected. The first year I used it my entire garden was infected. I sprayed everything by hand and prayed. I could see an improvement by the next day. The tomatoes were sprayed 4 times that year but the rest of the garden only needed one more spraying. The next year I did not have anything infected.

**sanderson** 3/26/2018, 3:10 am

Thank you for your input, Dorothy.

countrynaturals 3/26/2018, 12:15 pm

DorothyG wrote:
countrynaturals wrote:I'm wondering if regular blowing with a fan or leaf-blower could prevent powdery mildew. Any thoughts?
CN, we aren't the windiest area but we do get our share. I thought of the fan idea several years ago but it wasn't practical for us so didn't try it.

We had a lilac bush about 6 foot from the road edge that caught all kinds of breeze from the road and that didn't make a difference. I don't like to use chemicals but when I do I try to find one that is more natural.

The only thing I had any luck with was a liquid copper fungicide and I can say it did work great. Way better than I expected. The first year I used it my entire garden was infected. I sprayed everything by hand and prayed. I could see an improvement by the next day. The tomatoes were sprayed 4 times that year but the rest of the garden only needed one more spraying. The next year I did not have anything infected.

Thanks, Dorothy. I saved that product info.

No_Such_Reality 3/28/2018, 11:02 pm

We have regular winds so that makes no difference and helps spread with the right weather.

Powdery Mildew and SoCal Fall Planting - Page 2 PMildew02

Powdery Mildew and SoCal Fall Planting - Page 2 PMildew02

UC Davis has awesome information on it.

**sanderson** 3/30/2018, 3:17 am

No_Such_Reality wrote:We have regular winds so that makes no difference and helps spread with the right weather.

UC Davis has awesome information on it.

Yes, it does.

No_Such_Reality 8/10/2023, 6:28 pm

Mid August and we’ve had near ideal PM conditions for three weeks. Need to get out this afternoon and prune affect leaves on my Zucchini. Pull the cucumber, it’s beyond help. Still have time to replant. Also need to prune affected leaves on the Butternut.

Also trying a new Melon this year called Kajari, PM resistant supposedly and so far showing no signs planted it in may and it did nothing during our cold June and early July but with the heat of the last month, it’s growing well.

Hope all are doing well.

OhioGardener 8/10/2023, 7:00 pm

I am in a totally different grow zone and environment, but I have always had excellent control of PM with a simple homemade spray:

1 Tbsp of Baking Soda
1 Tsp Castile Soap
1 Gal Water

Mix well and spray once weekly early morning or late evening. Ensure both top and bottom of leaves are sprayed, as well as stems.

**Scorpio Rising** 8/10/2023, 8:36 pm

The only thing I have ever treated with (PM or any other mildew to be honest) is a milk mixture. Sprayed 1:1 all over the plant leaves. Especially the undersides. You almost have to do it every day. I use powdered cheap milk that I reconstitute for this.

Good luck!

**sanderson** 8/12/2023, 3:18 am

I used to get powdery mildew in the winter squash. Now I get aphids, spider mites and white flies. The PM doesn't have a chance. Razz

Seriously, I used to use a 1:1 milk spray with fair results. It's mainly preventative rather than a treatment.

OhioGardener 8/12/2023, 8:17 am

sanderson wrote:I used to get powdery mildew in the winter squash. Now I get aphids, spider mites and white flies. The PM doesn't have a chance.

You need some Minute Pirate Bugs! Wonder if I could loan you some? Very Happy

**sanderson** 8/13/2023, 3:33 am

I do not accept out-of-state packages in brown paper wrapping.

OhioGardener 8/13/2023, 9:24 am

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