Mildew earlier than ever!!!

[Biscombe]

My squash and pumpkins are coming on a treat, fruiting like mad kabocha and jaspee (thanks Cambourne) are in the lead, but a week ago I noticed mildew. I get mildew every blinking year (earlier than ever this year!), it's a real pain in the ass, although I love growing as many different varieties as I can I think I'll have to stick to resistant varieties  :( bicarb and other organic treatments like powdered milk only keep it at bay for so long  :'( now here's the question, can anyone reccomend some good mildew resistant varieties that I can easily order over the net?

PS anyone else have this problem? my peas and cukes always get it but trying resistant varieties this year...........

[Biscombe]

[Biscombe]

Bump! no one get mildew? only me  ;)

[manicscousers]

sorry, biscombe, only just seen this thread, yep, we get it , mainly on runner beans if I plant sweet peas in between, I think they're too squashed up, and on peas in a warm, damp summer..little bits on some strawberries and cucumbers..can't remember anything else
oh, yes, on the squash but they were on their last legs  ;D

[Biscombe]

Cheers Manics, It's a terrible pain, and its sooooo early here this year!

[Jeannine]

I have it on a Jack be Little pumpkin in the greenhouse so it has had to go out,I have never had it this early though. I think the hot days combined with the cool night causing condensation in the greenhouse have done it.

I have not had it much in the past only at the end of the season so I have never bothered searching for resistant types, sorry I can't help you with this one XX Jeannine

[Biscombe]

Well for the cukes your Carmens are going to save the day!  :-* looking around for mildew resistant seeds, Johnnies in the U.S seem to be good but for 8 packets of this and that they charge 9 Dollars!! the seeds are expensive too! I suppose its the price to pay for mildew resistant stuff!

[Jeannine]

Biscombe, Johnny's is a good read but I  don't buy from them anymore ,I used to in the US but the postage is daft to the UK. I think some of the cukes are ok for restistance, the Carmens are good, we are eating ours full size now by the way, anyway back to the point..with squash I think the resistant ones only buy a few more days at best. They were next to the mildery pumpkin by the way and are fine.

While I remember, Carmens are available from Plants of Distinction, half the price of T&M.

Which seeds were you looking at in Johnny's, I have the catalogue in front of me,I may know another supplier that is cheaper, if you are talking squash I might even have the seeds.

XX Jeannine

[Biscombe]

OOOhhh I'll have a look!!  :-*

[weedin project]

Had some spinach in the greenhouse last week that went down with it.  They had begun to go to seed so I wasn't too worried.

Seek and destroy seemed to be the way forward, so now they are composting.  Very early for it though, must be the weather.

[Biscombe]

Havent got the heart to seek and destroy squash that is fruiting, the bicarb seems to be holding it back a little but it seems to scorch the leaves but better that than the mildew!

[flowerlady]

Honey try this ... Milk is the answer apparantly  :o 

... dilute it 9 parts water to 1 part milk and spray   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D let me know if it works for you  ;)

[Jeannine]

Powdered milk can work , it usually just holds if off for a little while, it is a good tool if you are close to the end of the season and are hanging on as long as possible. My 2 Jack be Littles have been put out, I have taken off the mildew leaves and so  far being in the air they seem OK.

I would re consider putting the mildew plants in the compost, the spores can stay dormant for ages, even through a frost,and they blow around. I always burn them as fast as I can.

XX Jeannine

[greenscrump]

somewhere on site  there is mention of mildew dosed with diluted tea tree......... might be worth a try, it works on OH's athletes foot, which I think is a fungus thing.....  :)

[Biscombe]

I think that was me with the tea tree, but not tried it yet thanks for reminding me! just read chamomile tea works too! tried milk last year on the peas and the plants didn't like it! maybe too strong  :-\ OK this year I'm going to try everything!!! thanks for your replies