Using baking soda for powdery mildew??

socalgardengal · March 20, 2013

I noticed a few small spots of mildew on my plants,probably from watering. Is this method safe and organic? My mom told me about it but just want to be sure it's ok first and if so, how do I make it? Thanks.

Durgan · March 20, 2013

My experience is soda does nothing. About four years ago my area was devastated with Downey mildew. Nothing worked to stop it. My view is you have to live with it and your plants will die.

The only precaution that I take is to never wet the vegetation if watering. Of course, this avails nothing if one has a very wet season.

**carolyn137** · March 20, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by socalgardengal

I noticed a few small spots of mildew on my plants,probably from watering. Is this method safe and organic? My mom told me about it but just want to be sure it's ok first and if so, how do I make it? Thanks.

Baking Soda works marginally to help prevent mildew on Zinnias andMonarda ( beebalm) andsomeothers, bu tall that I know who have used it for Powdery Mildew, and there are two kinds of that, has not been successful.

Different fungi that cause Powdery Mildew have different genera and species and expressions and so all cannot be treated the same.

Carolyn

socalgardengal · March 20, 2013

Any suggestions???Or should I just pull off the leaves that have it?

LDx4 · March 20, 2013

You can buy some Neem oil spray or 3-in-1 spray made by GardenSafe at either HD or Lowe's in our area. I usually get it at Lowe's. Follow the directions on the bottle and spray your plants. Are your plants already outside? It does have a strong odor, so you'll want to do it outside and in the early morning hours. Neem oil is a good product and also organic.

Lyn

**mdvpc** · March 20, 2013

Take a look at GreenCure and see if you want to try it. I use it on cukes and it works on them.

Tonio · March 20, 2013

Powdery mildew got all my toms and cukes, zukes last year.
With tom's I got a good harvest in june-considering the PM, and cukes just a few pickin's- root knot nematodes also helped end the plants. And the zukes( just 1 plant) I got 5 zukies. They all succumbed to PM.

I tried serenade- it was too late, I tried baking soda- nada, then I tried neem oil- and it appeared to slow down the PM spread, but it does not cure it. From researching, I found nothing cures PM.

This year pushing the early planting envelope, I just transplanted my toms today- woo hoo- and yes I had a brew after done

) Will I ever learn to not start seeds so early?? I do have a few back ups

I inoculated with actinovate- in the pots prior to transplant, in the hole, and after planting. I also pre treated the beds and tom's, while hardening off, 1 week prior with actinovate and molasses to get the microbes working.

Will see how it goes, but for PM, you need to pre treat it, and PM still might take down the plants. When I say take down, you can slow the progress, and may get marginal fruiting- at least to ripen them, but eventually the plants will need to be pulled as not to spread the disease to other beds if close by. At least in my microclimate

Tonio · March 20, 2013

I've been checking out Greencure, may give it a go.

LDx4 · March 20, 2013

Tonio,

I had the same experience as you did with the PM, but then last year I started the season by spraying Neem every 5 -7 days, without fail, and then I started alternating weeks with Actinovate+Excel. Last year was the first year that PM didn't take down my cukes! I still had problems with early blight and other fungus crud, but at least the PM stayed under control. Of course, my microclimate might be a little dryer than yours. Staying on a regular spraying schedule worked the best for me.
Lyn

socalgardengal · March 20, 2013

Neem oil is on my list. Gonna check out Greencure for sure. So for the moment I'm taking off the leaves and throwing it in the trash. It was a small spot. I should water from the bottom also

Thank you

Cole_Robbie · March 20, 2013

I have read about spraying a milk and water mixture but have not tried it.

Tonio · March 20, 2013

definately do not overhead water, and avoid wetting the foliage and stem at all costs .
Lyn, I think I do get more pressure from the south and being closer to the ocean and a slope/mini valley -enclosed setting, I get alot mildew and crap floating in and stays.

Neighbors weeds are of no help with vectoring other possible viruses. Last year was a doozie.
Keeping on schedule make be the key.

bwaynef · March 20, 2013

I've treated Powdery Mildew on Crape Myrtles w/ a milk-water mix (1:10). It was pretty late in the year, but the PM didn't come back after treatment before the leaves fell off.

Is PM on CM the same as PM on tomatoes?

socalgardengal · March 20, 2013

I also live at the coast. Lots of fog and cloudy days and salty air. I have to read about the milk mixture.

emcd124 · March 20, 2013

If I remember right, i've read somewhere that you can also sprinkle corn meal or corn grits on the soil early in the season as a preventative. Its supposed to cultivate a kind of bacteria thats harmful to the PM but doesnt affect the plants. I've not yet tried it myself, but going to try it as a preventative this year.

March 20, 2013	#1
socalgardengal Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: San Diego,Ca Posts: 462	Using baking soda for powdery mildew?? I noticed a few small spots of mildew on my plants,probably from watering. Is this method safe and organic? My mom told me about it but just want to be sure it's ok first and if so, how do I make it? Thanks.

March 20, 2013	#6
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Take a look at GreenCure and see if you want to try it. I use it on cukes and it works on them. __________________ Michael

March 20, 2013	#7
Tonio Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 148	Powdery mildew got all my toms and cukes, zukes last year. With tom's I got a good harvest in june-considering the PM, and cukes just a few pickin's- root knot nematodes also helped end the plants. And the zukes( just 1 plant) I got 5 zukies. They all succumbed to PM. I tried serenade- it was too late, I tried baking soda- nada, then I tried neem oil- and it appeared to slow down the PM spread, but it does not cure it. From researching, I found nothing cures PM. This year pushing the early planting envelope, I just transplanted my toms today- woo hoo- and yes I had a brew after done) Will I ever learn to not start seeds so early?? I do have a few back ups I inoculated with actinovate- in the pots prior to transplant, in the hole, and after planting. I also pre treated the beds and tom's, while hardening off, 1 week prior with actinovate and molasses to get the microbes working. Will see how it goes, but for PM, you need to pre treat it, and PM still might take down the plants. When I say take down, you can slow the progress, and may get marginal fruiting- at least to ripen them, but eventually the plants will need to be pulled as not to spread the disease to other beds if close by. At least in my microclimate

March 20, 2013	#2
Durgan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Brantford, ON, Canada Posts: 1,341	My experience is soda does nothing. About four years ago my area was devastated with Downey mildew. Nothing worked to stop it. My view is you have to live with it and your plants will die. The only precaution that I take is to never wet the vegetation if watering. Of course, this avails nothing if one has a very wet season.

March 20, 2013	#5
LDx4 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 321	You can buy some Neem oil spray or 3-in-1 spray made by GardenSafe at either HD or Lowe's in our area. I usually get it at Lowe's. Follow the directions on the bottle and spray your plants. Are your plants already outside? It does have a strong odor, so you'll want to do it outside and in the early morning hours. Neem oil is a good product and also organic. Lyn

March 20, 2013	#11
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I have read about spraying a milk and water mixture but have not tried it.

March 20, 2013	#13
bwaynef Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Clemson SC Posts: 143	I've treated Powdery Mildew on Crape Myrtles w/ a milk-water mix (1:10). It was pretty late in the year, but the PM didn't come back after treatment before the leaves fell off. Is PM on CM the same as PM on tomatoes?

March 20, 2013	#15
emcd124 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: South Bend, IN Posts: 104	If I remember right, i've read somewhere that you can also sprinkle corn meal or corn grits on the soil early in the season as a preventative. Its supposed to cultivate a kind of bacteria thats harmful to the PM but doesnt affect the plants. I've not yet tried it myself, but going to try it as a preventative this year.