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WCLinolVir

(951 posts)
Fri Aug 30, 2013, 09:35 AM Aug 2013

Hello-Need to know a good fix for downey mildew!!

Any suggestions that are natural and cheap? Should I order Serenade? Can't find it, will have to have it shipped. Am currently using baking soda 1 tsp per quart. Any help is much appreciated.

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Hello-Need to know a good fix for downey mildew!! (Original Post) WCLinolVir Aug 2013 OP
What kind of plant is affected? The Velveteen Ocelot Aug 2013 #1
Pumpkin. And squash. WCLinolVir Aug 2013 #4
Powdery mildew and downy mildew are different. The Velveteen Ocelot Aug 2013 #9
a timely solution from a local community garden mopinko Aug 2013 #2
Thanks- I will add the soap. WCLinolVir Aug 2013 #5
THIS works..I have used it for years dixiegrrrrl Aug 2013 #3
I wonder if I can alternate with the soda. WCLinolVir Aug 2013 #6
Soda would cancel out the milk, I think. dixiegrrrrl Aug 2013 #7
i think this would do the same thing. mopinko Aug 2013 #8

The Velveteen Ocelot

(121,523 posts)
1. What kind of plant is affected?
Fri Aug 30, 2013, 09:56 AM
Aug 2013

Downy mildew has been a big problem on impatiens plants in the eastern part of the U.S., and it can also get on plants in the cucumber/squash family. Moisture/high humidity encourages its spread. If it has infected your impatiens, there's not much you can do except get rid of the infected plants to keep it from spreading, and be sure the remaining ones aren't spaces close together. The fungus spores can survive the winter in some parts of the country, so depending where you are, next season you should plant something in that spot other than impatiens.

WCLinolVir

(951 posts)
4. Pumpkin. And squash.
Fri Aug 30, 2013, 04:21 PM
Aug 2013

I battle powdery mildew, but this is first year for pumpkins
I am in Richmond Va. The humid south.

mopinko

(71,998 posts)
2. a timely solution from a local community garden
Fri Aug 30, 2013, 11:45 AM
Aug 2013

which has a great facebook page.

just shift the pH on the little bastards-
1 gallon of water
1 tbsp baking soda
1-2 drops of dishsoap

spray

did it the other day. appears to have worked really well. will do one more spray today or tomorrow.
have a sneaking suspicion this would work on a lot of things.

WCLinolVir

(951 posts)
5. Thanks- I will add the soap.
Fri Aug 30, 2013, 04:23 PM
Aug 2013

I was thinking of a foliar spray this weekend with kelp to give them a boost.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,011 posts)
3. THIS works..I have used it for years
Fri Aug 30, 2013, 01:10 PM
Aug 2013

and am still amazed that something so simple can be so darn effective.

Downy Mildew Milk spray
a weekly spray of milk at a concentration of at least 10% (1 part milk to 9 parts water)
significantly reduced the severity of powdery mildew infection on the plants by 90%.

While some gardeners may be tempted to increase the concentration of milk for more control,
Bettiol found that once concentrations rose above 30%, an innoccuous fungus began to grow
on the plants.

low fat milk works fine.
The 1 to 10 ratio is perfect.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,011 posts)
7. Soda would cancel out the milk, I think.
Fri Aug 30, 2013, 04:41 PM
Aug 2013

What you might want to try...spray half the plants with milk, half with the soda mixture and see what happens.
I would definetly spray plants every couple days until it looks like it is working, then spray less often.

There is probably a lot of good info online about the milk mix and how/why it works.

mopinko

(71,998 posts)
8. i think this would do the same thing.
Fri Aug 30, 2013, 05:17 PM
Aug 2013

i don't know what the pH of milk is, but i would think the calcium in the milk would neutralize any acidity. that's the point of the baking soda spray. mildew needs acidity.

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