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Powdery Mildew on cucumbers?

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Posted by Weicker 6a PA (My Page) on
Sat, Jun 21, 14 at 14:58

We had a couple muggy, rainy days this week. Went out to the garden yesterday after a 2 day break and noticed white splotches on my cucumber leaves. Spacemaster Bush. Flowering, but not fruiting yet.

I only planted 3, very close together. The label suggested 6-8" spacing, and mine are about 6".

I'm home with no car, a good 10 miles from the nearest big box or farm store... won't be able to get out to buy anything for at least 5 days.

What can I do in the interim to prevent the spread of the PM or get rid of it entirely? And what, if anything, should I look for once I can get to a store? This is my first year gardenng and I haven't applied any preventatives at all.

And are there other plants I need to worry about it spreading to? These are in a SFG bed near tomatoes, peppers, beans, chard, and lettuce.

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RE: Powdery Mildew on cucumbers?

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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)

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RE: Powdery Mildew on cucumbers?

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

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RE: Powdery Mildew on cucumbers?

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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!

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RE: Powdery Mildew on cucumbers?

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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?

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RE: Powdery Mildew on cucumbers?

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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.

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RE: Powdery Mildew on cucumbers?

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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.

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RE: Powdery Mildew on cucumbers?

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

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RE: Powdery Mildew on cucumbers?

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

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RE: Powdery Mildew on cucumbers?

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AS does powdered milk,

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RE: Powdery Mildew on cucumbers?

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

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RE: Powdery Mildew on cucumbers?

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  • Posted by rina_ 5a Ont (My Page) on
    Sun, Jun 22, 14 at 22:53

farmerdill

How do you mix powder milk?
Thnx. Rina

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