Powdery mildew advice please

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peebee
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Powdery mildew advice please

#1

Post: # 25616Unread post peebee
Wed Jul 15, 2020 12:21 pm

Has anyone tried either the milk or baking soda treatment for powdery mildew on cucumber leaves? My zucchini leaves are also affected. I've had a great run on the cukes, tons of fruit daily so I can't complain if they are coming to their inevitable end but I'd like to get a few more weeks life out of them. Your thoughts please. Thanks.
Zone 10, Southern California
Will eat anything once before I judge.
Anything meaning any foods of course.

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TXTravis
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Re: Powdery mildew advice please

#2

Post: # 25620Unread post TXTravis
Wed Jul 15, 2020 12:48 pm

I sprayed mine with Daconil, and while most of the infected leaves went ahead and died, it has done well in preventing further spread to new or uninfected leaves. Some of the infected leaves that weren't too far gone have somewhat recovered and lasted longer (presumably) than they would have otherwise, but their days are clearly numbered. My plan for the Fall crop and for next spring for cukes and toms is Daconil treatment at least every other week until plants are well established and off the ground, then we'll see after that.
A seed not planted is guaranteed not to grow.

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MissS
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Re: Powdery mildew advice please

#3

Post: # 25621Unread post MissS
Wed Jul 15, 2020 12:50 pm

Milk sprayed while the sunlight is bright has worked for me on Bee Balm, Lilacs, Peonies and sometimes tomatoes. I have not yet used it on zucchini or cukes. I would go ahead and try it and see how it does. Doesn't sound like you have much to lose and it costs you little. Please let us know if you use it and how it works out for you.
~ Patti ~

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Cole_Robbie
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Re: Powdery mildew advice please

#4

Post: # 25623Unread post Cole_Robbie
Wed Jul 15, 2020 2:04 pm

I haven't tried either milk or baking soda. If it is just a few plants, hydrogen peroxide at 1 to 2% should beat it back. If it was a large patch and peroxide was not cost effective, i would probably try a light bleach spray. And i have not experimented on cucumbers, but cold pressed neem oil is supposed to have fungicidal properties.

Mark_Thompson
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Re: Powdery mildew advice please

#5

Post: # 25684Unread post Mark_Thompson
Thu Jul 16, 2020 1:25 am

Milk worked on PM on my tomatoes
Wet and windy side of a Hawaiian island, just living the dream

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AZGardener
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Re: Powdery mildew advice please

#6

Post: # 25695Unread post AZGardener
Thu Jul 16, 2020 8:32 am

I use the milk spray for powdery mildew. The recipe I found called for 1 part milk 9 parts water. That mix wasn't effective
for me so I bumped it up to 3 parts milk 7 parts water. Be sure to spray the stems and under the leaves as well as the tops.
I've also used hydrogen peroxide spray (6TBSP per gal of water) and it works too,
but needs to be done very early in the morning in my very hot climate.
I've not had either burn my plants, but it's always best to test spray a few leaves before
using a new spray on the entire plant or garden.
I have not experimented with baking soda spray.
I've used milk spray on tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, zinnias, and chard with good results.
HTH
USDA Zone 9b, Sunset Zone 13
Average Rainfall 9.5 inches
Climate: Sonoran Desert

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peebee
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Re: Powdery mildew advice please

#7

Post: # 25727Unread post peebee
Thu Jul 16, 2020 2:34 pm

I have powdered milk I bought 6 years ago & never used. Do you think it's still good to use in the spray?
Zone 10, Southern California
Will eat anything once before I judge.
Anything meaning any foods of course.

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MissS
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Re: Powdery mildew advice please

#8

Post: # 25749Unread post MissS
Thu Jul 16, 2020 5:38 pm

peebee wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2020 2:34 pm I have powdered milk I bought 6 years ago & never used. Do you think it's still good to use in the spray?
I do know that Marsha once tried using powdered milk on her plants and that it had no effect, so I'm not sure that powdered milk would work at all.
~ Patti ~

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Growing Coastal
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Re: Powdery mildew advice please

#9

Post: # 25756Unread post Growing Coastal
Thu Jul 16, 2020 6:00 pm

Hmmm. How about frozen milk? I have some and thought of using it this way on some flowers that have developed PM in all the humid weather.

Is the milk diluted with water or used straight?

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MissS
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Re: Powdery mildew advice please

#10

Post: # 25777Unread post MissS
Thu Jul 16, 2020 9:48 pm

I dilute my milk to about 1 cup per gallon. I have also done it 50/50. It works best if applied in the sunlight unlike most other sprays.
~ Patti ~

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peebee
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Re: Powdery mildew advice please

#11

Post: # 25879Unread post peebee
Fri Jul 17, 2020 9:01 pm

[mention]MissS[/mention] good to know I can do this during the day. I'm a night owl & wake up usually by 10. I consider 8 am to be dawn :) I know a lot of sprays & whatnots have to be done early in the morning so I've been hesitant about this but tomorrow I'll be out by noon spraying. Thanks!
Zone 10, Southern California
Will eat anything once before I judge.
Anything meaning any foods of course.

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jmsieglaff
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Re: Powdery mildew advice please

#12

Post: # 41353Unread post jmsieglaff
Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:44 pm

I spray a mixture of water, potassium bicarbonate and a few drops of dish soap for powdery mildew. It works really well. Potassium bicarbonate can be found from wine and homebrew shops/online retailers for much cheaper than from garden related sources.

The mix:
1 gallon of water
4 tsp of potassium bicarbonate
a few drops of dish soap

Paquebot
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Re: Powdery mildew advice please

#13

Post: # 41358Unread post Paquebot
Thu Feb 18, 2021 11:08 pm

Serenade. Organic and works great to prevent PM. Especially effective on cucumbers and cantaloupes. Like many other things, it prevents, not cures.

Matin

rossomendblot
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Re: Powdery mildew advice please

#14

Post: # 41397Unread post rossomendblot
Fri Feb 19, 2021 10:08 am

Potassium bicarbonate has worked well for me too.

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Cole_Robbie
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Re: Powdery mildew advice please

#15

Post: # 41400Unread post Cole_Robbie
Fri Feb 19, 2021 11:52 am

The milk and the bicarbonate work by raising the ph of the leaf surface. Water with a ph of 9 to 10 should work similarly.

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