Milk Spray.

[beeman]

Last year I lost a cucumber to Downy Mildew and later read about milk spray as a preventative and cure. So this year I was ready and waiting.
The photo below shows the effect of spraying a cuke with a 1-10 milk spray.
That lower centre leaf wilted, the first sign for me of mildew forming. I sprayed thoroughly the whole plant, plus a second one in the same container and low and behold it worked.
You can see the dried up edge surrounding the whole leaf, but the new growth is unaffected.
I am now convinced, looking forward to 'curing' the melon patch for the first time, also wondering what else it will work on? Can't believe how healthy the plant is.

[MissS]

I have used milk spray on Lilacs, Bee Balm, Squash and Pumpkins with excellent results. I am glad to hear that it has worked so well for you too. I think that I used a little stronger solution.

Marsha was going to try it last year but I don't know how it worked for her.

[JamesL]

Good call Beeman and MissS.

I use it too as more of a preventative in the spray rotation.
Are you adding any foliar feed in there?

My current version of Fish Milk
2 cups 1% milk to the gallon. 1 to 8 ratio.
Neptune's Harvest - 2tbs
molasses - 1 tsp

[AlittleSalt]

Very interesting, I'm going to have to try this next year.

[JamesL]

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

Very interesting, I'm going to have to try this next year.

Why wait? Cost is a few cups of milk.....

[AlittleSalt]

Originally Posted by JamesL

Why wait? Cost is a few cups of milk.....

Our cukes drowned. It is that wet here.

[JamesL]

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

Our cukes drowned. It is that wet here.

Oops... It is effective on tomatoes and peppers too - once they dry out of course.

[peebee]

Just curious, but can you use bad milk too? I saw that somewhere years ago, someone saying if you have soured milk, don't throw it out use it on plants for mildew.

[beeman]

Originally Posted by peebee

Just curious, but can you use bad milk too? I saw that somewhere years ago, someone saying if you have soured milk, don't throw it out use it on plants for mildew.

I would think so, after all it's Lacto Bacillus which is the part doing the good job. I do occasionally use whey from my cheese making, but that's usually in the fall when the garden is finished.
Sounds like we've found an alternative to some of the fungicides. Will be interesting to try it as an insecticide, perhaps on aphids and white flies.
Any one??

[AlittleSalt]

I've used Daconil in the past, but if 8-10 parts water to 1 part milk does the same - I would rather use the milk solution.

[MissS]

Milk does a body good! I have never used another fungicide once I started using this. Gone is the copper and the Daconil.

JamesL I have not added any foliar feed to the spray before. I just might try some seaweed this year.

peebee, spoiled milk is just fine and might even be better as more of the Lacto Bacillus might be present in the milk.

[beeman]

Originally Posted by MissS

peebee, spoiled milk is just fine and might even be better as more of the Lacto Bacillus might be present in the milk.

Just a small problem with spoiled milk, the solids, but I suppose you could strain the solids out before adding to the spray bottle, otherwise it will make for a frustrating treatment.

[luigiwu]

James was the one who first mentioned the milk spray to me and I'll forever be thankful. I'm starting the first application tomorrow!

[MissS]

Beeman if you leave the milk out of the fridge overnight or a little longer, it will be very easy to separate. The solids will have become a large solid mass. Just pour over a strainer and the liquids should come out and the solids most likely will remain in the bottle.

[peebee]

That gives me an idea: I make my own yogurt so I will use the liquids that form (and that I usually throw out, to thicken the yogurt). Just like beeman, a new way to use the whey!