Grey mould advice, tips and poll!

[Emily Peagram]

Hi everyone,

I'm the new Editorial Assistant for GYO, and I was wondering how many of you have had a problem with grey mould in your garden/greenhouse? What do you think is the best advice for preventing and getting rid of it?

I'll attach a poll asking how many of you have encountered grey mould too. So if you have the time to answer that would be great!

Answers may be edited and published in the March 2015 issue of Grow Your Own.

Emily

[Guest]

The fact I have just googled it and then thought oh is that what it is it actually has a name, probably isn't a good thing I just accept it as part and parcel of growing. Remove affected leaves and fruit and dispose of. I tend to find it frequently this time of year and prepare myself for loss of plants over winter from rot, slugs eating roots etc.etc. I have never fussed about. I am intrigued to see what other grapes say.

Congratulations on your new role. I hope you enjoy it

[Greenleaves]

I think greenhouse maintenance and hygiene is paramount here along with ensuring that the greenhouse has good ventilation.

I have learnt the hard way and am now a stickler for keeping my greenhouses and cold frames clean. I clean at the end of the season and then again before the start of the next along with practicing good house keeping throughout the year.

[Martin H]

This year the grey mould spoiled my end-of-season chillis and then wiped out my japanese onion seedlings. I need to stop rainwater getting in under the side of the greenhouse and also to ventilate more on cool days when the automatic vents stay shut. The less humid conditions should discourage the mould.

[Thelma Sanders]

Yes, despite permanently open vents, probably because I cram to many plants in!

[Penellype]

I had it on the aubergine I tried to grow in the greenhouse, and stupidly left the plant as it was awkward to get out from under the tomatoes. The tomatoes then got it and so did the peppers. Lesson learned, although I still got decent crops from both the tomatoes and peppers by removing the affected parts as soon as I saw them.

I also regularly get it on strawberry fruits if they get wet, particularly later in the year. I tried putting some autumn fruiting strawberries in my growhouse to help the fruits ripen, but removed them in days because of grey mould.

The only solution I have found is remove anything affected asap, and keep places under glass as clean and clear of fallen leaves etc as possible.

[Bren In Pots]

I get the odd bit late in the season especially on my winter lettuce that I'm growing in the borders.
I do the usual things like cleaning my GH, removing dead or infected leaves plus I've got auto vents, louvre windows and keep the door open.

[emzgogo]

Touch wood nothing yet. Disinfect greenhouse start season giving good clean. Try keeping greenhouse ventilated on day that allow.

[Martin H]

Oh dear. I am reading my Chrysanthemum book and in the section on Pests and Diseases it has this to say on grey mould:

"Of Botrytis, it can be truly said, a good grower does not get it."

That's me told!

[alldigging]

Ventilate under cover and don't overcrowd plants. Air is as important as water and food.

[Penellype]

Not quite sure how to ventilate outdoor grown strawberries...