The mint leaves seem dusted with flour. Over time they turn brown, dry up and fall off. In view of this type of damage, you are dealing with the plant disease powdery mildew. The following lines explain how to counteract this.

Combat powdery mildew with natural means - this is how it works

The fungal infection powdery mildew is one of the most common diseases in herb gardens. The velvety green leaves of the mint are attacked just as ruthlessly as other herbaceous garden plants. As soon as the temperatures scratch the 20 degree mark, the danger increases. Since most mint species are cultivated for consumption, resorting to chemical fungicides is out of the question. How to fight the disease with natural means:

  • clean all leaves with white coating
  • do not dispose of the infected leaves on the compost, but in the household waste
  • spray the remaining parts of the plant with a mix of 100 ml fresh milk and 900 ml water

Garlic tea is an effective natural remedy to get rid of the last fungal spores on a mint. To do this, squeeze out a clove of garlic, pour boiling water over it and let it stand for an hour. Put the solution in a spray bottle and apply it every 2 days.

This is an effective way to prevent powdery mildew

In the fight against powdery mildew, knowledgeable hobby gardeners have a whole arsenal of effective means of prevention at their disposal. How to keep fungal spores away from mint:

  • Plant young mint at least 50 centimeters apart
  • An airy location is ideal so that the leaves dry quickly after a downpour
  • always pour the irrigation water directly onto the root area without wetting the foliage
  • consistently loosen the soil and pull weeds
  • do not apply nitrogen-rich fertilizer
  • mixed culture with garlic reduces the risk of infection

After cutting back before winter, do not leave the clippings in the bed. The fungal spores like to use such places for hibernation in order to strike again next year.

tips and tricks

Those who shy away from repeatedly wetting mint leaves because of the risk of rotting can use this remedy: the silicic acid in pure rock powder eliminates fungal spores. Repeatedly applied with the powder sprayer, powdery mildew retreats.

GTH

Category:

Vegetable garden