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Powdery mildew on courgettes

debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
in Fruit & veg
My courgettes are covered in powdery mildew so planning to harvest last few and dig them up. Can I put old plants, chopped up, into compost bin? 

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    Yes, it won't survive the composting process and won't 'infect' your compost. :)   Besides, the spores are always in the air so growing growing strong healthy plants by keeping them fed and well watered is the best preventative measure.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    Thanks Bob, we had a good crop this year but will be glad to get them all dug up and the bed sorted for the winter. 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    Mine also had it and 3/4 have now been pulled up.  I also have it on all of my winter squashes despite regular watering - the fruit are mostly smaller than usual but at least there are lots of them!  That hot, dry spell was both a blessing and a curse at the same time! :smile:
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I've grown Romanesco courgettes this year ... wonderful ... not a hint of powdery mildew despite the weather and a very good crop of the most delicious tender slim dark green courgettes ... still producing although slowing down a bit now .... 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    I tried 4 new (to me) varieties this year from this mix, Dove but think I'll give Romanesco a go as cropping on all of them apart from the 'black' one wasn't brilliant (although they all produced more than enough.) :)

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    At this moment in time I feel like saying I'll never grow any other courgette @BobTheGardener   ....  I gave a couple of plants to Wonky and she's been keeping all her colleagues and friends supplied with courgettes and they all think they're a brilliant flavour and texture (non of that 'slightly cotton-wool-iness you get with some varieties as the fruits get beyond finger-size).   I planted them out in the veg patch the second week in May and popped a plastic cloche/tunnel over them while we were away on our hols, returning at the end of May.  The neighbour watered them for us while we were away, and by the time we came back they were fruiting .... and as I said, not a hint of mildew ... I was conscientious about watering them .... probably every other day during the drought ... we're on free-draining gritty loam.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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