Courgette Mildew...Yuk

[GMB27]

Hi all, im learning a new veg this year :-) Courgettes are the order of the day, but as somebody pointed out in another thread, im getting a white powdery mildew on the leaves. The flowers are blooming fine and i have a few small courgettes growing already but can anybody tell me if theres a way to be rid of the mildew or if the condition is something i should be worried about?

Thanks!

[The Valegrower]

It looks like I'm getting a bit of this now as well

[Hammer]

Powdery mildew is fairly common on Courgettes and fungicides are not very effective,
have you kept them well watered, dry hot weather encourages mildew.
Keep well watered but add something to make the moisture stick to the leaves, maybe a very small amount of detergent, i have heard that a mixture of water and milk in a ratio of 10 to 1 will help, any leaves badly affected should be cut off.
Also do not feed with anything rich in nitrogen. as this encourages new stems which are more susceptible than older foliage.
Hope this helps.
Regards Hammer

[Hammer]

I have just read on this Forum under Thread - "anything i should know about Courgettes" ? that over watering causes powdery mildew, which is somewhat at odds with with my advice above, unless too much AND too little water cause the problem and balance is the solution.(pun unintended)
I would try to get clarification somewhere else if i were you - "Doctors differ and patients die"
I was trying to help and i hope i have not given you bad advice !

Please let me know what you discover.

Regards Hammer

[vegetable-gardener]

I'm also getting some mildew on my plants - nothing to worry about really. I doesn't look good and the leaves that get really bad I cut off. Have also tried yellow sulphur - but haven't found it to be very helpful. Mine do get it when its wet but it's been very dry and they still got it!!

So i just put up with it.

[Florence Fennel]

I grow courgettes every year and every year this happens, but it doesn't affect the harvest, so I wouldn't worry about it. I would suggest that you water regularly, rather than sporadically.