Downy Mildew

Hi, my name is: Downy Mildew

Describe yourself: I get really sick of people thinking I am
powdery. Hes my cousin, and, to quote him, I am also a
pretty fun guy (you know fungi!). Im a little duller than
him though, some may say grey, but I prefer grey-brown. I
look kinda furry, but I am pretty shy!
Hobbies: Dont like going out that much, mainly hang
around on the undersides of my favourite leaves (grapes,
cabbages, onions, lettuce, stocks and vines). I like sporing,
but am pretty shy, so I only do it at night for release in the
morning.
Likes: I love it wet, especially when there is 10mm or more of rain, its over 23 degrees and leaves
are wet for 24hours. Picky I know, but I just cant get enough of it! I love waterin fact, my spores
cant live without the stuff! I love young leaves..the younger the better!
Dislikes: Hate dry weather, drip irrigation, clean gardens, full
cream milk sprayed onto me, home made bi-carb remedy or store
bought fungicides. I really dislike seaweed solutions in the soil
around the bottom of my plants!
Youll know youve met me when: The upper surface of your
leaves is yellow and patchy, and you can see me on the lower
surface! In cool wet areas, I am the king!
Old School Control Methods: Bayleton, Baycor, Mancozeb Plus
Breaking up aint hard to do if:
Dont water the leaves late in the afternoon, especially if its cool
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Pick up any fallen leaves and dispose of dont compost!!!!
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You dont overcrowd your plants, Downy Mildew loves no air circulation
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Dont overfeed plants with high nitrogen fertilisers its just bad news!
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Make up a milk mix (about 3 parts full cream to 10 parts water) and spray it on affected plants. It
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wont prevent it but it will knock it right back!
Excessive overhead irrigation will seriously encourage me!
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Try some store bought stuff, low environmental impact of course
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Photographs:
Pic 1: www.ces.ncsu.edu
Pic 2: www.umassvegetable.org
Pic 3: http://hgic.clemson.edu Description: Downy Mildew symptoms as seen on the upper leaf
surface
Pic 4: www.apsnet.org Description: sporangiophore and sporangia of downy mildew