Grow Your Own Magazine

I had some powdery mildew when it was dry in the heatwave but now my big squash patch is getting loads of the downy mildew ( or the other way round I always get them mixed up)

I 've tried that squirty powdery stuff in the past but it wasn't much use as you can't get it on evenly. Also would prefer an organic option. Any suggestions gratefully received. I love winter squash and would be gutted to lose them.

No? Dang! just cut away all the worst infected leaves and there's precious little left.
I'm off over to kitchen garden to see if anybody on there can help. * flounces off the board and slams the door*

Come back Tink!
I cut most of the leaves off my courgettes which had powdery mildew. I was convinced the plants would die because I left on only 2 or 3 new leaves, but they have recovered and are growing new leaves (and courgettes, thankfully) without mildew!

Thanks heebie
I did that too and also sprayed with 1-9 parts milk water mix. I don't know if it really helped but at least I felt like I was doing something

At any rate it seems to have slowed down a bit.
Probably more to do with it not raining for a few days and some Sunshine at last!

Hi Pickledtink, sorry the only thing I can come up with is to remove the affected leaves & give everything a good feed & watering. I've got a bit on my pumpkin & cucumbers but am hoping as they still have a few unaffected new leaves that they will be O.K.

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Into every life a little rain must fall.

It's actually got to the stems and fruit and flowers. Really fed up as I lost so much in the great Badger orgy and now the squash that were left are all going yellow, flowers going brown without opening then they fall off.
There are new fruit forming on some tentacles which look healthy but they've climbed off up the giant hydrangea which is perched on a sheer drop anyway so I can't get to them! I do wish my garden would behave itself. I nearly broke my neck today trying to get a few beans off the beanpole which has decided to head off up the cliff.

You definitely need a safety harness Pickledtink!
It sounds as though it might be too late to save them this year unless you can haul in the bits growing into the hydrangea.Maybe you haven't got deep enough or rich enough soil to grow squashes etc. with being on the cliffside?

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Into every life a little rain must fall.

Never say die! The ones on the very ends ( totally out of reach so they'll have to sort out their own balancing act) are looking OK but every other promising butternut has now given up and fallen off. The Crown Prince in another spot are looking healthy however bur also out of reach as they have hared off into a cranny I can't reach.
Watch this space. Abseiling gardening here I come.

I had powdery mildew on my cucumbers in the greenhouse. Have now cleared them away and emptied it for the winter. Will it come back again next year. Should I do anything in the grenhouse to prevent it.

Hi jjat8cv and welcome to the Vine. We are a friendly bunch and there is usually someone to provide an answer. I don't have a greenhouse but the one thing I do know is that it will benefit from a good clean and disinfect. There is probably something on the "Undercover Operations" part of the forum which will give you some info.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

Hi JJ & welcome.
As Earthbabe says the best thing is to give your greenhouse & pots a good clean with something like Jeyes fluid. You might get mildew again next year anyway as cucumbers are particularly susceptible to it especially if you don't water them often enough & ventilate the greenhouse. If you see it appearing just try to remove the worst afeected leaves & give your plants a good feed & watering & try to keep them spaced apart so that the air flows around them.Good luck with your growing.

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Into every life a little rain must fall.