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long Island

Every year I battle against powdery mildew. I always lose the battle

This year I would like to win

I have: "Safer brand" spray on fungicide
"daconol" from extreme pumpkin web site
"captan" from extreme pumpkin web site
Do I also need a systemic like:
1081 - Bonide - Infuse Systemic Fungicide Concentrate - 1 Pint

Do I need all of these?
How does the systemic get into the plant if you just spray it onto the leaves?

6/9/2010 10:24:18 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

The leaves soak the fungicide up and take it into the plant. What method of watering do you use. If you are overhead watering you may want to go to a soaker hose/drip tape method if you are having that kind of mildew problem.

6/10/2010 10:48:00 PM

Navarre,OH

All I use is the milk/water method. I have never lost against powdery mildew. 10:1 solution of skim milk and water.

6/11/2010 12:05:52 AM

Colorado Springs, CO

The weather and the surface of your soil bring those pathogens to your plants. Why not prevent their accumulation before they becomes the larger and more recognizable problem.....and regularly cleanse your leaves and stems with something like Plant Wash from Soil Mender Products. One ounce per gallon applied over all surfaces of leaves and stems through a pump sprayer. Do that perhaps every other week in the twilight of an early evening.

Spray your tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas, etc . etc. with that same cleansing solution. Good for a safe control of some of the early blight issues and those soft-bodied insects that you might not want there as well. Water via the garden hose does not suffice to break the adhesive bonds of fine dust, dirt particles and early arriving pathogens looking to establish a colony. Contact the company an order some with c.c. and UPS to your door. Tell them Ross suggested you call.

The fungicide method is most often that after-the-fact approach. I know, I know, people do not eat their giant pumpkins, so no big deal with the chemical complexities, except for the good microbes that do not prefer those substances.

6/11/2010 11:00:52 AM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

All I ever use is milk as well, but diluted to @ 30%. Never see PM until October and then I don't care.

6/11/2010 11:41:05 AM

Navarre,OH

Yeah if I do get PM its not that bad thats why my milk/water mixture isn't that strong. Overhead watering is a no-no as I have found the hard way in the past. lmao

6/11/2010 6:14:51 PM