Powdery mildew - again

Dial Hard

Hi All

I had a powdery mildew breakout in my garden a few years ago and it took out my entire herb garden. I've noticed a few spots on my mint in the last day or two and I really don't want another garden apocalypse as this time I have loads of veg growing too. Everything is in pots and I've dumped the mint but, alas, I spotted what looked very like the beginnings of a patch on one of my gherkin leaves this morning. Is there anything that can be done to save my stuff at this stage, or is it a case of once it's on something, it's on everything before you've even spotted it?

Thanks a mill
DH

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Hot humid weather. Spray, remove infected leaves and destroy them, avoid wetting leaves when watering.

standardg60

Nikolai Mango Cheese wrote: »

Hot humid weather. Spray, remove infected leaves and destroy them, avoid wetting leaves when watering.

Yep remove any infected leaves straightaway, spraying is best used as a preventative rather than a cure.

rolion

Dunno how to avoid it but it broke my heart this year,in the greenhouse.
Presnet everywhere on the soil or on the ceilling or wires,some of the plants just lost the fight...beens,cucumber and courgettes...while others weren't affected at all. Strange isn't ?

prinzeugen

Air circulation...

As someone said remove dead stems/leaves. If you are getting it outdoors, consider where the stuff is planted. Is there a reasonable amount of airflow?

Even remove healthy leaves if it helps. (Plant dependent. Do research first!!)

Likewise for a greenhouse. This time of year you can open the door in the morning and let some air in. Close it as the sun goes down.

Also remember that while its been warm, its been cloudy recently and most plants don't like stewing in warm, humid, wet soils.

Only water when needed.

macraignil

prinzeugen wrote: »

Air circulation...

As someone said remove dead stems/leaves. If you are getting it outdoors, consider where the stuff is planted. Is there a reasonable amount of airflow?

Even remove healthy leaves if it helps. (Plant dependent. Do research first!!)

Likewise for a greenhouse. This time of year you can open the door in the morning and let some air in. Close it as the sun goes down.

Also remember that while its been warm, its been cloudy recently and most plants don't like stewing in warm, humid, wet soils.

Only water when needed.

Sounds like mostly good advice, but I would be careful about the restriction on watering as some material I have read states mildew on courgette is linked with the soil becoming too dry including in this BBC article. It advises to "Really drench the soil and keep up watering especially in dry spells." I think stressed plants like ones lacking water are more susceptible to disease.

Dial Hard

Thanks all. Everything is outside, in pots. I've removed all the affected leaves and this seems to have stopped the spread (touch wood).

Now if I could just figure out what the hell is eating ruddy great holes in my basil, I'd be a happy woman. Have yet to see an actual crayture in situ, no trails suggesting slugs or snails but practically every day it looks like the Very Hungry Caterpillar has been along with a couple of his even hungrier mates.

New Home

Probably green caterpillars (even tiiiiny ones do A LOT of damage in a very very short time indeed) alright. They will eventually turn into Small White butterflies (Pieris something or other).