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Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

Powdery Mildew is running rampant in my area this year. I have been fighting it, I'm keeping it in check, but it still keeps raising it's ugly head. I've talked with the extension agent, called NC state and worked with their IPM guy. news is the same everywhere here: PM and DM are absolutely atrocious this year. I'm on a rotation of captan/neem, chlorothalonil/neem, and Agri-Phos/neem. All of the systemics that the farmers use are 1. out of my price range, and 2. in way to big a quantity. I am working with agent to get my hands on a small amount of either Quadris, Headline, or Bravo (as each covers not only PM but also DM)through one of the local farmers.
Now that you have all the background info, my question is:
Being that PM grows best between 60-80 degrees in shady conditions I'm thinking about removing the shade fabric from the patch. Obviously this is going to send the temp up, and as we are already over 90 everyday....you see my issue.
So which is worse? Keep chasing the PM and leave the plants cooler, or use the sun to help with PM and lose the moderated temps for the plants? How much plant has to be coated in PM before the fruits growth is effected? I don't have anything near coated leaves- more like speckles of PM here there and everywhere. I see it, and spray it. They are still getting their once a week top and bottom fungal spray, but I'm daily nailing the small PM areas I see crop up with a hand sprayer.

7/23/2014 10:11:16 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

If you are keeping it under control and removing the shade cloth would cause other harm, I would keep on like you are doing. Maybe removing the shade for a day or two right after a spray would knock it down hard without cooking your plants too much. I don't think you can totally eliminate it PM once it gets started, but you can keep it at a manageable level. Maybe adding some milk to your spray would help. I rarely get PM on my AG's, but when I do a spray of milk and chlorothalonil usually knocks it down. It is a constant problem on my field pumpkins except for this year. It is odd because of all of the June rains, but maybe my regular treatment with Daconil and Agri-Fos is keeping it away.

7/23/2014 11:31:56 AM

Central Minnesota

Eagle 20 and your PM problem is solved, but start now and use it once a week for the rest of the year. I use a higher dose then most, 1 tablespoon to 4 gallons water in the sprayer now and up it to 2 tablespoons per 4 gallons water as it gets later. Any less and I will get some PM later in the season. You may want to start with 2 tablespoons now. Eagle 20 is cheap online.

7/23/2014 11:54:23 AM

Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

I get paid Friday, it's worth a shot. thanks guys, for answering. I'm going to do both, shoot them w eagle in the eve and leave shade cloth off the next day to really dry out leaves, hope it works. About sick of the PM. First year I have ever had to deal with it this much!! My field pumpkins (warlocks) never get it...but they are impervious to everything. LOL

7/23/2014 12:20:08 PM

Central Minnesota

Your field pumpkins will get it this year too, I would spray them also. I should add that I use the above dosage/volume across probably 5 plants.

7/23/2014 1:59:49 PM

Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

4 gallons across 5 plants? So not drowning them, just good coverage spray?

7/23/2014 2:06:14 PM

Santa Rosa, CA.

Eagle 20 works great. I use 3 ml per gallon and in my mist sprayer it takes me 3 gallons to do 8 plants. I just took down all my wind breaks to increase the airflow in the patch.

http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/eagle-20ew-specialty-fungicide-p-1359.html

Good luck.

7/23/2014 5:57:28 PM

Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

Thanks guys! I did same thing with wind breaks. they are 'up' at moment, but with all our storms I can get them into the down position quite quickly. Thanks for the link Patch master.

7/24/2014 9:56:33 AM

Ky

I like the Eagle too, I've used it up to 1tbs. per gallon without issue.

8/14/2014 1:32:13 AM

West Paris Me.

I am really glad that I saw this post. I have ordered some Eagle 20 through Amazon.com. I assume that I need to use a wetting agent. Has anyone mixed it with fertilizer?

8/19/2014 9:53:09 PM