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Jamul

Hello,
Not sure if I have this right? There is a huge native California live oak with 6" or so of leaf mold under it directly adjacent to the patch area(not blocking sun). It appears to be an overwintering locale for powdery mildew? Also the weeds that grew in the patch since I tilled it a few months ago have lots of white powdery coating on them. Is this a cause for concern? The rainy season is just ending here.We have very dry summers.
Thanks

5/3/2010 2:28:23 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

I have read several times, that prevention is the best way to go, to stop PM, so if I were you, I would find a good preventative and spray it NOW!!! Peace, Wayne
PS...or maybe you need more than that!!! Do you have AG's in the ground already?

5/4/2010 12:10:27 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

its leaf mold..a natural mold caused in decomposition. Very common in nature.

5/4/2010 1:17:02 PM

Jamul

Thanks for both answers. I will look into it more. There is no pumpkin in the patch yet. There are about 10 miscellaneous summer squash plants about twice the distance from the tree that are doing fine as young plants. Last years plant got a modest case of PM but it was only in for 10 weeks before the pumpkin stopped growing and I ripped the plant out.

5/4/2010 5:02:54 PM

Jamul

O.K. I have read a bunch stuff here and on the internets. Going to give some of the baking soda/summer oils a better look and think about experimenting with those. Aphids tend to be problematic here so hopefully I'll figure out a mixture to do double duty. Now that I am thinking about it white flies got pretty bad last year too..... there were those earwigs.... pesky gohers... and kangaroos.

5/4/2010 7:02:47 PM