Downy and Powdery Mildew

**muddled** · 19-06-2015, 09:24 AM

Hellllooooo!
Is anybody home?

My cucumbers (in the greenhouse) have white powdery leaves.
I'm rather fascinated actually.....it is the purest, whitest white...like a thin layer of cotton wool. Quite beautiful if wasn't so damaging...

Anyway, I digress

Hippy friendly 'cures' on't'internet include milk spray, baking soda spray and Lumpy's chive spray. What does everyone think? Have you tried any of these?
So far, only one or two leaves on each Q are affected...should I take these off before spraying?

Any advice gratefully appreciated!

**Lumpy** · 19-06-2015, 11:03 AM

Hello my fellow muddled - how about a concoction of milk, chives and baking soda? It might be a bit of the kill or cure technique but your Q's are doomed if you don't try something.

The chive idea was in a book that was part of my pressie for MOM so........if the powers that be send them out they might just approve of some of the things written inside.

**muddled** · 19-06-2015, 02:50 PM

Hmmmm... it's all starting to sound a bit like a salad dressing; blend chives and baking soda into a cup of milk and whisk....

I have visions of caterpillars tucking napkins under their little green chins

**Lumpy** · 19-06-2015, 04:41 PM

Next stop for us both - Hogworts.

**fishpond** · 19-06-2015, 04:50 PM

Never tried it, but spraying the leaves with milk is supposed to cure it by changing the surface PH of the leaf.
Either that, or it was a spell for something.

**Lumpy** · 19-06-2015, 05:55 PM

I know if you use milk 'they' recommend using skimmed as full fat will stink your greenhouse out. I think it is supposed to be a 50/50 with water.

May be a spell in the asylum if the weather don't sort itself out soon.

**roitelet** · 19-06-2015, 08:05 PM

Now I am going to be serious!!

I always get mildew on a honeysuckle and it destroys the blooms. This year I sprayed with a solution of 1:10 half fat milk and water and I have flowers!!!!!!

So I suppose there is nothing to be lost by trying.

**Mr Bones** · 19-06-2015, 08:08 PM

I think milk is supposed to be used 10 parts water to one part milk. I've used whey diluted with water, it worked a treat on botrytis, stopped it in it's tracks.

Edit, beat me to it Roitelet

**Jay-ell** · 19-06-2015, 08:30 PM

I've read about (but not practised) the use of milk diluted with 10 parts water (apparently to stop it going rancid), garlic infusions and bicarbonate of soda

It seems that bicarbonateofsoda is used as a preventative, sprayed before you get powdery mildew - however potassium bicarbonate is supposed to work well after infection and is supposedtocure the infection. I suppose that it'salso beneficialas it will release potassium. Both, however, are stated to damage plants if used too much.

If it's antifungal properties we're after what about chillies - the fire giving properties are supposedtohave been developed originally to combat fungal infections.

As chilli and garlic sprays are used to combat pests could you get a two for one deal?

As I said I haven't tried any of these - I'm mastering in Theoretical Concoctions not Applied Concoctions.

**Jay-ell** · 19-06-2015, 09:00 PM

This site does mention vinegar and oil so we are getting close to the salad dressing recipe. It also mentions mouth wash but I think that would ruin a vinaigrette.

**Lumpy** · 19-06-2015, 10:01 PM

I suppose you could try all of them. Try each concoction on a leaf and see what happens.
It might be useful for either later on this year or next year as you will become the 'go to person' for any wayward soul riddled with fungus.

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