Powdery Mildew on my courgette plant - leave it? Treat it? How if so?

Hi all

Sorry to be back again so quick with another question.

I have a courgette plant with powdery mildew (at least that's what I think it is checking against photos online). So I've been reading up about the condition... Some say if it isn't too bad and the plant is still doing well it can be left alone. Others say to deal with it asap to stop it spreading. Others say it is tough to deal with once it is there and prevention is the cure (bit late for that now, but at least I'll learn for next year). It is in a bed with another courgette plant (at the back), a large pumpkin plant, and a squash plant.

So just wondering what you peeps would recommend I do.

Many thanks

Max

 

Someone may correct me here but I've always understood it's caused by the above ground part of the plant being damper than the roots, so you could perhaps not be giving enough water.

I have some Ajuga ( Bugle ) which suffer from it and usually after a few good soakings they seem to recover.

 

Yes, as Shiney says, don't worry. Courgettes seem to get this often and it doesn't make much difference to the yield. If it's really worrying you, you could try using a dilute milk spray - it does work on cucumbers when they get mildew though personally I don't bother with mildew on my courgettes as they produce more than we can use.

 

Hi all

Many thanks for the replies. I had actually posted this onto another forum as well and have been told there that it is not powdery mildew at all, but rather just leaf variegation. Seems that that is indeed the case, so I am much relieved. Happy to post more info if anyone now - or in the future - needs it.

Thanks for all the great gardening support.

Max

 

Some gardeners advocate the use of milk....it will certainly do no harm.

Dilute 1 part milk to 2 - 3 parts water. The solution is then sprayed on the plant's leaves every 10-14 days.
It works best as a preventative, rather than a cure, which makes it hard to determine whether it actually works since you don't know if your plants would have gotten it anyway.

 

I'm more than happy to try prevention and never know if they would have got it

I don't use milk because I am a vegan. Are there other things that can be used instead? Did I read somewhere that bicarbonate of soda is useful for prevention in a similar way?

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Dont worry its not powdery mildew.
It is something that often shows, it usually means the plants are doing well.

 

May I point out it is illegal to use anything other than a registered pesticide on any plant.

 

You can point it out.

Have you tried policing it

 

Pete, I am not against it, just pointing out to the less experienced members of the law. Also that they face fines of up to £5,000 if caught.lol lol lol