By joenesgarden, 2 years and 4 months ago

Magic milk update …

Sometimes the magic works, sometimes it doesn't - borrowed from Chief Daniel George in the movie Little Big Man. This could not be more a more accurate description of my experience controlling powdery mildew this year.  As readers of my original post on Magic Milk know, I used a spray of 9 parts water to 1 part milk on plants with powdery mildew.  It halted the powdery mildew advance on my lilacs, phlox, cucumbers, and zucchini, but spraying must continue regularly or powdery mildew takes over. 

Keep reading →

By joenesgarden, 2 years and 5 months ago

Magic Milk for Powdery Mildew

White lilac with powdery mildew - not sprayed_edited You know … the unattractive white powdery-looking spots that seem to appear from nowhere during mid- to late-summer?  These fungal spots begin on lower leaves and can quickly spread to cover leaf surfaces of entire plants.  Lilacs, phlox, bee balm, asters, dahlias, cucumber and summer squash are all susceptible, particularly if the plants do not have good air circulation (a problem I plant to avoid).  Not liking to spray fungicides, I've tolerated powdery mildew for years.  But when cleaning up paperwork this past winter, I found a note I had jotted down, likely while watching any one of gardening shows I try to take in during cold weather months.  The note said: powdery mildew; 1 part milk to 9 parts water; spray 2x weekly.

Keep reading →