Eeek! My cougettes

[itsgrowinglook]

This morning I went to check on my veggies (first time grower so very excited everyday!) and my cougettes have a white mould on them. It wasnt there last night.

Any suggestions on what I can do to cure my courgettes?

Thanks

Andii

[stupo74]

Hi Itsgrowinglook,
Not an expert here, but could it be the first signs of "Powdery Mildew"
The "Boss Lady" and the rest of the "Clan" will probably give you a better "Diagnosis", they are more Educated than myself.
cheers stupo.

[hiyatim]

Hey,
if you can get a photo on here it would help with diagnostic alot :-)

cheers

[itsgrowinglook]

Is the photo not showing for you?!

Andii

[itsgrowinglook]

Is the photo not showing for you?! Or do I need to take a better one?

Andii

Ooops a daisy, two posts for one reply. I really must put my glasses on. Sorry!

[hiyatim]

sorry when checking the forum on my phone sometimes the photos dont show so just ignor me

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Andii, are you sure that it is mould and not a cobweb of some description?? There are some little white dots on the leaf - have you checked underneath the leaves for insects?? There is also what looks like an ant on the leaf.

[itsgrowinglook]

Hi Lesley

Sorry for not responding sooner - had to go out.

I have found some eggs on the underneath of one leaf arghhhh and took one of another leaf with the white stuff on. Its not a cobweb, unless its a very strange spider.

I hope the photos help and I hope they are clear enough it is very windy in Manchester today.

Thanks everyone for your help and advice. Notice my thumb on the photo - its not green!!!

Andii

[stupo74]

Hi Andii,
Another shot in the dark here, but maybe an attack by red spider mite, they leave a "Fine Silky Webbing" on the leaves & stem.
As said, a shot in the dark, "No Expert" here.
I am sure you will get the right answer, from 1 of the more experienced amongst us.
cheers stupo.

[itsgrowinglook]

Hi Stupo

I hope its not spiders, I'm a really girlie girl when it comes to spiders

Andii

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Andii, don't panic about the spiders as it isn't red spider mite (Stupo and myself were both thinking along the same lines!). That is the start of powdery mildew. An organic treatment is to spray the plants two or three times a week with skimmed milk diluted with water - one part milk to 9 parts water. This works because of the salts and amino acid in the milk. Where the eggs are concerned you need to get rid of them and the easiest way is to just squash them between your thumb and finger and keep checking daily for any more eggs. Also squash any aphids you see on the plants. Was that an ant on the first photo??

[itsgrowinglook]

Thank goodness its not spiders!!

Have already got rid of the eggs, yuk.

Will long life skimmed milk do or does it have to be fresh, sorry for all the questions.

No it wasn't an ant!

Thanks for all the advice and time.

Andii

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Andii, the long life skimmed milk might have a different fat content and also it will have been treated for the long life bit. I would just buy a pint of regular skimmed milk and freeze it in batches. (I'm sure you can freeze milk.)

[itsgrowinglook]

Hi Lesley

Off to the supermarket tomorrow morning to get the milk, I might have to get 2 because I lurve milk!

Andii