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Powdery mildew on courgettes and way to stop it?

I'm growing courgettes and they're doing well with nice fresh leaves coming through and flowers/fruit developing. However some of the large leaves have multiple spots of mildew. What should I do?
Happy Gardening

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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 84,046
    It usually happens when the plants have been a bit dry at the roots earlier ... mine have it at the moment as I delayed planting them out because of the weather and I should really have potted them on but I was short of compost ... so they did get a bit dry one day ... it's happened before ... I find that ensuring the plant gets plenty of water at the roots usually means that no real harm is done.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • It's a slightly odd as I've been watering all my plants well every morning. However it's only on the mature leaves and most of the fresh growth is good.
    Happy Gardening
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 84,046
    Are you sure it’s mildew? Some varieties develop a silvery sheen on older leaves which is often mistaken for mildew. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Yes it's definitely mildew. I just cut off a couple of the old leaves that were worst affected
    Happy Gardening
  • Lots of little white spots. On some of the older slug affected leaves they were all white with a slightly fluffy look.
    Happy Gardening
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 84,046
    I think just keep up with daily deep watering at the base of the plants … and 🤞 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 4,861
    I got fed up with this happening to mine so decided not to grow them again from last year.
  • WolveryetiWolveryeti Posts: 21
    Milk spray:
    https://www.growveg.co.uk/guides/using-milk-to-prevent-powdery-mildew/

    Alternatively grow Tromboncinos - picked young they are very good eating and courgette like and being from Cucurbita Moschata carry a natural resistance to mildew.
  • I'm growing courgette nice a round. Any ideas when they should be harvested. Some said tennis ball size bu that seems very small.
    Happy Gardening
  • I'm growing courgette nice a round. Any ideas when they should be harvested. Some said tennis ball size bu that seems very small.

    Which variety are they?
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