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Is this Leaf Spot?

MowerMan3MowerMan3 Posts: 37
in Fruit & veg

   

My wife has a few very healthy looking courgette plants that are currently inside on a west facing window sill - a few days ago a couple of leaves developed what I think is leaf spot and so were cut off.

Now two other leaves (on other courgette plants) have it.

I've cut off one leaf and taken a photo - see below.
Is this leaf spot?

If so, is bicarb of soda in a spray solution a good treatment for it? I'd like to avoid pesticides if possible (but will use it if necessary) but I also don't want to have to keep cutting off affected leaves.

Thanks
     
image

Posts

  • BLTBLT Posts: 525

    There are two different things going on their, my eyes are not great but it looks a bit like Downey mildew is in itsearly stages..  Leaf spot tends to be darker spots so might be water droplets that have dried...  We need a Shrug smiley..

  • MowerMan3MowerMan3 Posts: 37

    Thanks. The leaves haven't been sprayed or had any water on them so if it is downey mildew what is the best course of treatment?

  • BLTBLT Posts: 525

    I had this problem last year and the advice I was give worked well.. I was advised to water earlier in the day so the foliage had time to dry off.. Also I moved the plant in question from a shady spot to a sunnier spot and made sure no other plants foliage touched it..  It worked for me... My problem plant was an Aubergine..

    Courgettes and Cues and Marrows seem to attract leaf problems.. Although its mainly Mosaic virus..  Good luck..

    Last edited: 21 May 2016 21:41:49

  • MowerMan3MowerMan3 Posts: 37

    BTW, here's a link to the original photo:

    http://s59.photobucket.com/user/Dalek99999/media/P5210973.jpg.html?o=0

    This can of course be enlarged using the magnifying tool at the top right of the image.

    I'm now curious if it's Downy Mildew or Powdery Mildew.

  • MowerMan3MowerMan3 Posts: 37

    @BLT - thanks very much, however these plants are still indoors (about to harden them off) and they aren't having any water applied to the leaves.

  • BLTBLT Posts: 525

    That is a bit of a puzzle, did you buy the plants in or raise them from seed?

    This can be transfered by you touching another plant from outside and then touching this one...I hope it doesn't spread..

  • MowerMan3MowerMan3 Posts: 37

    These were raised from seed indoors. There's only six plants.

  • MowerMan3MowerMan3 Posts: 37

    Some extra info from my wife - as the courgette seedlings are in a window some of the leaves WERE getting damp due to them touching the window pane and condensation forming overnight.

    So does that mean that the affected leaves have powdery mildew?

    Additionally, here's a curious question - during the hardening off process, if they get wet outside (from rain) and then brought inside, is that likely to be a problem? Or do we need to pat them dry with kitchen paper first? ;)

  • BLTBLT Posts: 525

    I thinkif you left them outside and it rained on them, hopefully the leaves will have dried off before you bring them back inside..

     Yep wet leaves from the window might be the innocent cause..

    Once hardened off you may be ok.. If not and if it gets worse  depending if you are totally organic or not..  Bio make a Systemic Fungicide which is pretty good  One sachet madeup in 2.2lires of water and apploed via a hand sprant spray and then let it dry in the sun..  Works for me, bestter that losing 6 plants.. Good lick..

    Last edited: 22 May 2016 20:14:33

  • MowerMan3MowerMan3 Posts: 37

    Ta for the advice. :)

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