Gourds, dying fruit, lots of mold and yellow leaves! HELP

fireboy 8/15/2011, 5:49 pm

I have planted several different kinds of gourds but it looks as tho I am having the same problems with all of them, and here's whats happening:
- leaves are yellow, maybe from over-watering, I'm guessing?
- looks like mold growing on the leafs and turned yellow?
- the fruit is dying before it gets a good start at growing probably from stress maybe, guessing again? See dying fruit, one is dead in middle of top pic and just below that one on down about six inches on the vine is another one dying.

Gourds, dying fruit, lots of mold and yellow leaves! HELP Img_0018

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littlesapphire 8/15/2011, 6:43 pm

Looks like you have a bad case of powdery mildew Sad

It's super annoying. I've heard that it's only rarely fatal, but if enough of your plant is covered in it, it will weaken and stress the plant. In my experience, the plants won't produce when they're really being attacked by PM.

Here's another thread on PM

Chopper 8/15/2011, 6:45 pm

I have decided that I am tired of that kind of problem and am willing to spray for it. Some things, once you see them, will be a problem always in your garden if you do not take care of it. Wilts and mildews are two of them. Be aggressive or prepare to see that a lot.

That said I have gotten decent fruits from afflicted plants - but no where near what I should have gotten.

littlesapphire 8/15/2011, 6:49 pm

I totally agree, Chopper. It's worth attacking the mildew early. That said, I still like to go natural when possible. I've heard of using a baking powder mixture to help prevent the mildew (I've also heard about using milk). I haven't tried those methods, because usually by the time I think of using them, I already have PM. That's when I get out my neem oil and spray the plants with that, since it works better to kill the mildew than prevent it. Works well, too!

fireboy 8/16/2011, 12:49 am

Thank you littlesapphire and Chopper for pointing PM out to me. Wow, I've been doing a lot of reading up on that stuff. It's looks like I got my work cut out for me. I'll post a few a the links where I've been looking this PM up so if someone else is having the same probably they will have some good links to check out.

Powdery Mildews
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/02902.html

Powdery Mildew: Info on cause & treatment
http://www.gardenscure.com/420/plant-nursery/118561-powdery-mildew-info-cause-treatment.html

Does milk solution work for Powdery Mildew on Squash?
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/organic/msg061432466681.html?18

Using Milk to Control Powdery Mildew
from: http://www.gardenguides.com/779-using-milk-control-powdery-mildew-garden-pest-tip.html

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Gourds, dying fruit, lots of mold and yellow leaves! HELP

Gourds, dying fruit, lots of mold and yellow leaves! HELP

Re: Gourds, dying fruit, lots of mold and yellow leaves! HELP

Re: Gourds, dying fruit, lots of mold and yellow leaves! HELP

Re: Gourds, dying fruit, lots of mold and yellow leaves! HELP

Re: Gourds, dying fruit, lots of mold and yellow leaves! HELP

Re: Gourds, dying fruit, lots of mold and yellow leaves! HELP


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