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Williamsburg,KY

This year I planted some regular squash...well, I planted way too close and today I finally made my way into the plants to see them covered with Powdery Mildew, Im talking leaves are covered with white...dang it. This plant is Lil PumpKeMon, its a compact bush type. The other plants look fine for now. Should I try to cut out the leaves that are infected?
I will make sure to give my other squash plants a dose of daconil tonite.

Any advise, the plant needs at least another 30 days of growth to reach maturity. Its full of Lil Pump Ke Mons...

7/17/2014 2:40:43 PM

Lexington, Ky

I have never been able to fully eradicate PM once it has a foot hold in either AG's or field pumpkins. The past two years, I haven't waited for it, I begin spraying for it in mid June and that has worked out very well. You could probably control it for an additional 30 days but if I had anything down wind of it, I would be concerned about potential spreading. Cutting and burning the most infected leaves and a healthy dose of Daconil will buy you some time though. For what it's worth, some species of PM can overwinter.

7/17/2014 5:02:45 PM

Williamsburg,KY

Thanks Jamie, I will put that mid June in my notes. Some how I thought I would be immune with my squash. What was I thinking..oh yea..I guess I wasnt. I will be much more vigilant with my sprays. Have you ever tried MilStop or Armicarb, both contain potassium Bicarbonite, not sodium bicarbonite? Any thoughts from you or anyone? Thanks again.

7/17/2014 5:23:45 PM

Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

Use Chlorothalonil (trade name daconil) with dawn dish detergent as a spreader sticker. 2 T Dawn per gallon. Works wonders because it smothers the fungus and spores. Use regular dawn, not dawn antibacterial or dawn anything else, just the original old blue colored dawn.

7/17/2014 6:37:40 PM

Colorado

Cool nights and wet helps bring it on earlier.

7/17/2014 7:39:03 PM

Corryton, TN

How big of an area do you need to treat? Back pack sprayer or pump up?

7/17/2014 8:26:20 PM

Pa

If you aren't eating the squash then eagle, banner maxx or infuse are systemics and are quite effective on pm. Do not use them on food crops though. Daconil is fine but since it isn't a systemic you must cover all parts of leaves, especially the underside where pm likes to grow in the shades areas and its hard to get complete coverage.

7/17/2014 10:07:48 PM

Corryton, TN

I'd be glad to send you some Pristine. Just not sure if it will go through a pump up. It and Flint are hard to beat for pm and labeled for squash. You just don't want to buy a whole bottle for an ounce or two.

7/18/2014 4:15:46 AM

Williamsburg,KY

Thanks for everyones comments, I do appreciate your time. I gave the plants a good trimming of the really bad leaves and put the daconil to it. I do not plan on eating these, but there are others nearby that will be eaten. If worse comes to worse, I will just pull the whole plant. These were grown mainly for selling at the Farmers Market. I check my records and I did do a spray of TKO a few days ago, but I think I missed this plant. I planted way too close to each other and I have learned a lesson. I used my mister Dave, I love that machine!!! Im not familar with pristine, let me do some research and I will let you know. Thanks for the offer. The area is 20x50. It seems the only plant that is affected is the one, but you know when it rains it spores and rain is coming. I will be more dilgent for sure. Thanks so much, you all are great!

7/18/2014 8:25:45 AM

Mission Viejo, CA

A tip from Ron- NEVER put your plants to bed wet.

7/29/2014 3:09:58 PM