Content
- Identify and cure mildew on the pumpkin
- Characteristic damage image
- Biological control of mildew
- So soda turns into a natural fungicide
- Tips & Tricks
Identify and cure mildew on the pumpkin
One of the most feared fungal diseases does not spare pumpkins. Mildew is a pervasive threat to plant health. We explain how to recognize the symptoms. There is a wide range of ecologically harmless means of control available.
Characteristic damage image
The pathogens of mildew hibernate in the soil or in tiny housings of plants. Even on weeds, the mushroom spores come through the cold season. In spring, the parasitic cells can be carried by the wind and by insects to the host plants.
If the temperatures fluctuate at 20 degrees Celsius, a simple downpour is enough and the explosive spread starts. The spores drift over the wet leaves to use the smallest of injuries as access to the plant.
Biological control of mildew
The cultivation of pumpkins prohibits the use of chemical fungicides, especially if the fruits are intended for consumption. The large community of ambitious hobby gardeners has instead collected a wealth of environmentally friendly control measures:
The stronger the pumpkin plant, the more resistant it is to mildew. During the entire season, strengthen your pumpkin culture with liverwort extract, which at the same time prevents the proliferation of fungal spores.
So soda turns into a natural fungicide
In order to put a stop to mildew on pumpkin, the following home remedies have made a name for themselves among environmentally conscious hobby gardeners:
A heaping tablespoon of soda, also called soda, is dissolved in 4 liters of water. Added 15 milliliters of curd soap and 15 to 20 milliliters of vegetable oil. Filled in a hand sprayer, distribute the solution on the affected pumpkin plants.
Tips & Tricks
Rock flour has proved to be a very effective control against mildew. If infested plant parts of a pumpkin are repeatedly powdered with it, the persistent fungus spores retreat sooner or later.