Milk and water spray is effective against powdery mildew on cucurbits.

Here is a link that might be useful: PDF (about roses, but it has the science for squash)

Likewise baking soda in a water sprinkle or spray. neither will cure it, but it will help keep it in check.

Last year, I got powdery mildew on my pumpkin plants. I was using potassium bicarbonate (similar to baking soda) mixed with water after I discovered it. This worked to stall it. I changed it to milk and water towards the end of the summer. I really like it better. Many others swear by baking soda and water. I use raw milk, 10%-20% of the container and the rest water. This year, I started spraying before they get any fungus or disease. In my area, it can be rainy and powdery mildew is almost always going to happen to the cucurbit family which includes squash, cucumbers and pumpkins. Whichever you end up using, milk, baking soda etc., spray the underside of the leaves as well as the tops (to avoid downey mildew as well). You can remove the worst leaves but you don't want to cut too much off. Good luck and hope your plants can keep producing!

Thank you!

Sprayed the milk and water mix today... fingers crossed! Sprayed it on the unaffected squash leaves as well.

Does it need to be reapplied after every rain?

I have used milk/water for years. It works fine to keep PM under some control but is is not a cure. The best practice is PREVENTION, that is you spray all your cucurbits from early on, once every two weeks.

If you're seeing powdery mildew on your cucumbers, you should start weekly sprays with milk on any other cuke family crops you have, especially pumpkins. When used preventively milk works even better.

Where does one but raw milk? I think I know but just asking. Please don't laugh.

Just FWIW, regular old pasteurized milk works just fine, too.

AS does powdered milk,

Yeah, I've heard powdered is even better, but we usually have some regular milk left over to use up.

farmerdill

How do you mix powder milk?
Thnx. Rina