Downy mildew ?....Am I wrong ?

[David from Dothan]

This is the way my collard green leaves AND broccoli leaves look like. What can I do about it?

 

[Chuck]

I think what you have is powdery mildew although both powdery mildew and downy mildew are similar. Mix 2 tablespoons baking soda, one tablespoon of Neem and 1 teaspoon of dishsoap in a gallon of water and spray twice weekly until symptoms disappear. Try to keep moisture away from the leaves if you can but with all the rain a cure is dubious at best.

 

[Gail_68]

Hi @David from Dothan I think chuck's right and what's making it look worse is because the grounds damp …. I hope your keeping well

 

[David from Dothan]

I think what you have is powdery mildew although both powdery mildew and downy mildew are similar. Mix 2 tablespoons baking soda, one tablespoon of Neem and 1 teaspoon of dishsoap in a gallon of water and spray twice weekly until symptoms disappear. Try to keep moisture away from the leaves if you can but with all the rain a cure is dubious at best.

Thanks, Chuck.......would be best to remove affected leaves, too?

 

[David from Dothan]

Hi @David from Dothan I think chuck's right and what's making it look worse is because the grounds damp …. I hope your keeping well

Doing amazingly well, Gail....The current weather patterns, here, are definitely going to be working against me.

 

[Chuck]

Thanks, Chuck.......would be best to remove affected leaves, too?

Severely infected leaves, yes. By this I mean the one's with brown margins and the mildew still on them. You don't want to remove to many because of photosynthesis. If these rainy cold fronts ever stop you can probably get ahead of the problem but as long as it stays wet and cloudy it will be tough. You can also sprinkle whole ground cornmeal over the plant and around the base which helps grow tricoderma fungi which eats mildew fungus.

 

[zigs]

You can also sprinkle whole ground cornmeal over the plant and around the base which helps grow tricoderma fungi which eats mildew fungus.

Tetters said thank you for the tip, she's bought us some cornmeal now

 

[Chuck]

Severely infected leaves, yes. By this I mean the one's with brown margins and the mildew still on them. You don't want to remove to many because of photosynthesis. If these rainy cold fronts ever stop you can probably get ahead of the problem but as long as it stays wet and cloudy it will be tough. You can also sprinkle whole ground cornmeal over the plant and around the base which helps grow tricoderma fungi which eats mildew fungus.

Tell her that it works wonders for black spot on roses too. Just make a tea and spray and sprinkle meal around the base.

 

[Tetters]

That @Chuck has to be the best gardening tip I've heard in ages. Maybe I'll get a bigger packet ....thank you

 

[Becky]

Tell her that it works wonders for black spot on roses too. Just make a tea and spray and sprinkle meal around the base.

I might give this a try too, our garden is fairly damp and the roses are prone to getting black spot. Plus any excuse for cornbread!

 

[Gail_68]

Doing amazingly well, Gail....The current weather patterns, here, are definitely going to be working against me.

Hi David..sorry i'm late replying mate ...well I hope they don't and have you had further trouble with the little gremlins

 

[Mike Allen]

Fungal infections of plants are a real pain. By the time the problem shows itself, the damage is done. Remove damaged/infected foliage. Looking at the photo. You could cut the damaged and infected leaves off, leave a tiny bit of the leaf stem. In many cases this will encourage new growth at the joint. Allow the foliage to dry a bit before applying any fungicides.

I note the comments regarding damp. I'd be inclined to cheat much of the leaf litter/mulch away from the plants. This in itself can be a breeding ground for all manner of spores etc. Brassics require to be firmly rooted, so tread the soil down around the plants base.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Fungal infections of plants are a real pain. By the time the problem shows itself, the damage is done. Remove damaged/infected foliage. Looking at the photo. You could cut the damaged and infected leaves off, leave a tiny bit of the leaf stem. In many cases this will encourage new growth at the joint. Allow the foliage to dry a bit before applying any fungicides.

I note the comments regarding damp. I'd be inclined to cheat much of the leaf litter/mulch away from the plants. This in itself can be a breeding ground for all manner of spores etc. Brassics require to be firmly rooted, so tread the soil down around the plants base.

I find it true around here that moist mulches can be host to problems. Even using heat cured compost can cause issues for me, though not necessarily immediately, rather somewhere down the line that rich food source attracts an appetite for destruction. I was watching a seed video where chicken grit and something else appropriately mineral was used as a surface coating to perform as an inhospitable surface. The idea is the same as I use outside in the garden where bare mineral earth is less hospitable than a nutrient rich, moist coating of organic matter. I already prepared the earth, I do not need any more.