Gourds

I like to grow a few gourds around the garden just to have something a bit different and fast growing.But the lower leaves nearly always go grey and blotchy with what I take it is a fungal growth...How can I best avoid this?

 

I think you are talking about powdery mildew. Courgettes, marrows, that family are all prone to it. I have had limited success with a spray made from mares tails! Cheers, Tony.

 

Some gourds have a natural mottling that's just a pattern on the healthy leaf. But I agree with Kleftiwallah that you are probably getting powdery mildew, which doesn't usually kill the plant but makes it look a mess and disables it a bit. Lots of water at all stages is good as it's caused by dryness - which could be extra difficult this summer. |If the rest of the plant looks healthy (and the one in your pic looks OK) I'd just take off the affected leaves.

 

Thanks.