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Commack, NY

Im trying to lean more on the organic side of town this year (although i will still be using warrior for svb's). Im looking into using Neem oil, as well as doing the "milk thing". I have no idea what im looking for in either product and would appreciate any advice that i can get.

thanks
Scott

5/9/2007 9:17:58 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Scott,

We were successful controlling Powdery Mildew at the school last year with milk.

Thirteen oz into a 1 gallon sprayer - top with water & spray the undersides of the leaf. My goal was once a week. I missed one week so the interval was extended to 10 days.

We found that we could spray the milk at any hour of the day regardless of temperature with no ill effects.

Neem would be the same thing except you'll need to watch the temperatures. Treat Neem as you would any other chemical insecticide as far as phyto-toxicity is concerned.

Neem has the advantage of also killing insects like aphids. Can't say that for milk.

5/9/2007 12:42:41 PM

President - GPC

I used the milk last year with my foliar spray regiment after Tremor brought up using milk. LongBeard tested on some PM on bind weed, and the milk wiped it out. I combined it with my Agro-K program later in the year along with spray tech oil. I was amazed not to have PM at the home patch until the night before the frost late October in a year that was prematurely wet and cool. At the nursery patch I did not use it and had early PM..... It works......I think I used it at 4 oz per gallon and 2 1/2 percent milk. I will use it again this year.

5/9/2007 1:09:09 PM

Commack, NY

great info,thanks!

i was reading something about neem reducing yields, any thoughts on that Steve?

5/9/2007 1:25:21 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

you need to be very careful with neem oil...we burnt our plants a few years back. We mixed up a 15 gallon sprayer with fish and kelp, neem oil and calcium. The combination hurt new growth. It did kill the cuke beetles though.

5/9/2007 4:07:05 PM

Scott I used neem oil,,in the evening only, mixed with and rotated with the milk,,,half the recommended doses,,and I had no problems with the plants or pm,,,it also knocked down the bugs well.

Did it reduce the yields?,,,perhaps ;-)

5/9/2007 4:40:28 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Making repeated applications with full labeled rates of Neem probably do cause enough cell damage over time to reduce yields.

I like Dan's idea of cutting the rate down. I do that with conventional fungicides but make more frequent applications in an effort to reduce leaf damage but keep a working residue on the leaves.

We don't usually need to spray insecticides very often. If you can spend some extra time scouting & maybe emply some sticky traps, you might get away with just a few Neem sprays & make the weekly sprays of milk for Powdery Mildew.

If you do a Merit drench then really all you should need to worry about is SVB. I wouldn't trust Neem to control them.

5/9/2007 11:07:39 PM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

Neem says not to mix with other things, this may have been your problem GR8

5/10/2007 8:24:12 PM