Just recently I'm seeing the first serious mildew problem of the year. Surprisingly, it isn't on the crops I'd expect it. My most susceptible crops, pumpkins & gourds, are clear of mildew. But some of the green beans are being clobbered.
One bean variety only has small whitish spots on its leaves. But other varieties are faring far worse.
A few varieties have the most mildew on the oldest leaves and blotches showing up on their younger leaves.
And one particular variety is totally devastated....one called Tobacco Patch.....seen above.
These bean plants are among my seed production garden beds. I wasn't paying much attention to these plants, waiting for them to produce mature seed. While checking for maturing pods, I discovered the mildew problem.
This problem is actually a big benefit. Really. I am learning which varieties are susceptible to mildew, thus not welcome on my homestead. I am attempting to choose varieties that thrive in my particular location. Therefore I am ruthlessly pulling out all plants that show mildew problems. No sense of saving seed from a plant that is susceptible to a local disease, especially one as common as mildew. By saving seed from the healthier plants, I'm hoping to incorporate some degree of mildew resistance in my strain.
I had good success stopping the spread of mildew with lactic acid spray from fermented milk. The lactic acid bacteria are endemic on brassicas, I am thinking that is what makes them resistant to mildew.
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