Diseases of bushes - powdery mildew on the currant

In order for the red currant to please juicy ripe berries every year, you need to know its enemies in person. Diseases and pests can not only destroy the entire crop, but also destroy an adult plant. One of such enemies is powdery mildew on the currant. This disease affects healthy leaves, shoots, stems and even currant berries, covering them with white as flour, bloom. The causative agent is a fungus from the family of mealyards. Infection occurs quickly enough. Spores of the fungus by wind are transferred from the diseased plant to the healthy tissue and spread through the bushes with the help of special suckers. In addition, powdery mildew can kill gooseberries, grapes, melons, strawberries, cucumbers. Therefore, it is important to prevent infection of plants in the garden.

Fight with powdery mildew must!

If your currant in the dacha becomes covered with brown dots, which then turn black, and the fruit appears cobwebby, powdery or felt, it means that an ambulance is required. Powdery mildew on the currant depletes the plant, does not allow ripening of the wood, and the bush remains unprepared for the harsh winter. Usually the affected shoots freeze out, and the shrub significantly loses its yield. Here is how the powdery mildew that captures the currant bushes looks, photo:

By the way, the spores that have overwintered in marsupial fruit bodies mature during the winter, and with the onset of spring they swell and burst, becoming again the center of infection.

Methods of combating powdery mildew in the suburban area

In order to powdery mildew on the currant did not kill the plant, start with prevention: pruning old branches and harvesting fallen leaves. The perfect remedy for this parasite is sprinkling in spring and autumn with a solution of 1% Bordeaux fluid. Also spraying with potassium permanganate (10 liters of water take 1.5 g), which help with many other diseases.

However, if the powdery mildew on the currant already exists, specific actions are required:

• One of the most effective methods is the use of rapeseed oil (1% solution). It is ecological and very effective. The number of viable fungi decreases 200 times! Rapeseed oil dissolves well in water (10 ml per 1 liter of water), and within two weeks after treatment all visible signs of powdery mildew disappear.
• The ash solution will also save the affected bush. To do this, 1 kg of wood ash is diluted in 5 liters of hot water, it is insisted 24 hours. To achieve the result, several sprayings are carried out with an interval of 10 days.
• An effective proven tool is the soda solution sprayed on the bush if powdery mildew appeared on the currant. In 10 liters of water, 2 tbsp. Spoons of soda, grated soap (50 grams) is added, it is infused 1 hour before the soap is completely dissolved. With this solution watered bushes from the watering can.
• It is simple enough to destroy powdery mildews special chemicals. However, you must strictly adhere to all indications on the packaging, choose a certain time and weather, use personal protective equipment. That is why most gardeners choose less dangerous and more environmentally friendly ways to combat mildew.