If you are a gardener, then you must know that powdery mildew is the most widespread fungal disease. And you must have interacted with it every day sometimes unknown to you.
What is Powderly Mildew?
Powdery mildew is a fungal infection that appears on the surface of the leaves as a whitish or greyish powdery substance. It starts best in moist conditions but then it spreads best during warm, dry weather. If not controlled quickly, it can spread so fast and kill the plant.
This mildew is dusty, and controlling it presents a special challenge. The gray dust that covers the leaves and stems is easy to spot, but detecting it early is important, because when it turns black, it means it’s about to spread its pores. While the powder isn’t as harmful as other diseases, it can still retard growth and affect the flavor and consistency of fruit.
How do you treat Powderly Mildew Organically?
While you may be thinking about how best to fight the disease. it is important to keep in mind the old saying that prevention is better than cure. Make every effort possible to ensure that no infection. But if at all it comes into your garden, do the following.
1. Choose Plant resistant varieties..
If you find yourself living in an area that supports the growth and spread of powdery mildew, it’s best to plant plants resistant to the disease. Keep researching which varieties grow best in your locality.
2. Good Plant Spacing
Powderly mildew usually thrives in humid and crowded environments where there is very poor air circulation. When spacing is well done, air circulation is improved and the rate of disease spread is retarded.
- Make sure proper spacing is maintained so air can circulate between foliage and surrounding plants.
- Water your plants at the base or use drip irrigation during the early morning hours to help prevent water remaining on leaves.
- Avoid excessive applications of nitrogen fertilizer, which encourages growth of succulent plant tissue that mildew favors.
- The best prevention is to cut off the affected parts of the plants.
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