What is summer without humidity? So, by the end of July, the old “white stuff” starts creeping up on the cucumbers and squash leaves. Then one by one, they start turning yellow. I am surprised you don’t hear my loud *sign* when I see my squash and cucumbers dying. I look up to the sky and say “why me?”
Anna, didn’t you just battle the squash vine borer? Indeed, I did. But no one said gardening was easy, nor did they say it doesn’t come without challenges.
But how many challenges can a green girl handle?
I have to admit. I am a little burnt out this summer. Rain, heat, rain, squash borers, raccoons, rabbits and repeat and rinse. Did anyone say an early frost is coming?
Curing Powdery Mildew
So, how do you cure powdery mildew? Or at least keep it at bay from your new growth? I got out of my fetal position and decide to help my lame cucumber leaves. The zucchini was starting to look even worse.
The powdery mildew enemy, Serenade has been my friend in the past. However, the lady behind the counter told me to make my own garlic sprays since sulphur has been used to manage powdery mildew for centuries.
2 garlic cloves versus shelling out money for a product. Hmm. Which one would you pick? So, I got busy.
Luckily I grow garlic (so easy by the way) and took two bulbs from the pantry.
The Recipe
2 Garlic Bulbs–NOT cloves
2 Cups of Water
1 Tablespoon of Liquid Dishwashing Soap. (Please use an earth friendly product. Your plants don’t need the nasty chemicals in ordinary dishwashing soaps.)
1 Gallon jug
Instructions:
1. Grind the garlic bulbs with 2 cups of water.
2. Run the mix through an unbleached cheesecloth or coffee filter. (Forget the bleached products. Who needs extra possible dose of dioxins on their plants?)
3. Add 1/4 cup of the liquid mixture to a gallon jug.
4. Add the liquid dishwashing soap
5. Store the garlic mixture in a container in the refrigerator.
You can even freeze the mixture for the next season. I have at least 9 beds to spray so I went through most of the mixture pretty quickly.
I spray every week at dusk or dark. (It can be really eerie to spray your plants when it is pitch dark outside…I jumped every time I heard a strange sound.)
Results:
The new leaves aren’t infected. The old ones aren’t to get better. I will be taking those leaves off the plants and removing them from the garden. Do not compost these leaves.
Join the Conversation:
- What do you use to prevent powdery mildew on our plants
- What do you use when powdery mildew invades your garden?
Kristina (The Greening Of Westford) says
Very interesting. This might have come in handy years ago when I tried to garden. I have a black thumb! I love the idea of a garden, but get into trouble with the actual tending to the garden. I’ll have to pass this on to a couple of gardener friends.
Anna@Green Talk says
@Kristina, thanks for sharing with your gardening friends. I would be curious about their results.
O'Boy! Organic says
This is a fantastic tip, I need this since my zucchini plants are looking a bit sad 🙁
Anna@Green Talk says
Let me know if it works for you. The smell is so amazing. You will probably want to cook afterwards…Anna
Rachel says
This is great! My neighbor’s plants keep infecting ours. I will ask them if I can spray theirs, too. Thank you!
Anna@Green Talk says
Rachel, this is a great spray for prevention so it is best to prevent than fight. You can also alternate with 8:1 water and milk. Anna
Carissa Bonham says
Thanks for sharing this! I need some kind of solution for my pumpkins
Anna@Green Talk says
Carissa, see my answer to Rachel above. The key is prevention.Anna
Jack says
add a little hot peppers to that it works and getting rid of a lot of critters as well
Anna@Green Talk says
Jack, love it! Anna
michael john mcbratney says
Two table spoons of Baking Soda in a gallon sprayer also works on Powder Mildew. It’s all about changing the PH on the leaf…
Audrey says
This worked wonders on my once dying, now thriving mint plant! Thank you!
Anna says
Audrey, good to know. Glad it worked.
Donna says
On my squash plant it’s the fruit itself, not the leaves that are covered with thick white powder with dark gray under the white powder. They shrivel while still tiny. Nothing on the leaves. Is this powdery mildew. The white and grey is on the side of the wood of the raised bed the squash is growing in as well.
Anna says
Donna, sounds like a fungus. I would take a picture and call your county extension if you are in the US to see how you should treat it. Anna