Growth on vegies - Knowledgebase Question

warren, Mi
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Question by yvonneabbas
July 24, 2009
I have planted a vegetable garden in my back yard. On all of my squash plants and cucumbers, there is a white film that is on there. Eventually parts of the plant dies. What can I do to get rid of this problem so it doesn't affect the other vegetables?


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Answer from NGA
July 24, 2009
The white film on the leaves is a fungal disease called powdery mildew. Cucumber and squash plants are susceptible to powdery mildew, generally towards the end of the season when the nights are cold enough to stress the plants. However, the development of the disease can also develop in areas with humidity and poor air circulation around the plants, than cool night air. You might try removing the older leaves, especially when they begin to show signs of distress. Give your plants as much direct sunshine as possible and increase the space between the plants to provide excellent air circulation. There's not much you can do to save your plants once the disease takes hold - it's much easier to prevent than to cure. Wish I had more encouraging news for you!

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