Powdery mildew on gooseberries: measures to combat chemical and folk remedies

People growing gooseberry bushes often face such a dangerous disease as powdery mildew. Pathology can not only worsen fruiting, but also destroy plants. Therefore, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the most effective measures to combat powdery mildew on gooseberries.

Why does powdery mildew appear

Powdery mildew is a disease that can infect not only gooseberries, but also many other plants. The most suitable time for the development of pathology is late spring, summer and the first half of autumn. In winter, the disease does not develop, as powdery mildew spores hibernate in the soil.Some gardeners believe that plants can get sick with downy dew only on the street, but this is not so. This pathology is capable of destroying plants that are grown in protected ground.

Before treating an infected bush, it is necessary to determine the causes of a fungal disease. These include:

• Dense planting of gooseberry seedlings. This is the main reason why the symptoms of the disease begin to appear. Shrubs that are planted too close do not have enough top dressing. This leads to the fact that the protection of plants from fungal and viral diseases is weakened.
• Wrong watering. Some gardeners water the berries too infrequently, which leads to the depletion of the bushes.

Factors affecting the development of powdery mildew

There are several factors that cause powdery mildew to develop. If the berries are grown in a greenhouse, then a fungal disease may appear due to high temperature and high humidity.Fungal pathogens of pathology actively develop when the air temperature exceeds 20 degrees, and the humidity level is 85-90%. These are the most favorable conditions under which gooseberry infection begins.

When growing shrubs in the open field, the rate of development of the disease depends on the season and the climatic features of the region. Most often, the root and the ground part of the bush are affected by downy dew in the southern regions.

It often rains in this area, which increases humidity and creates suitable conditions for the development of the fungus.

Another factor due to which the disease can affect plants is the planting site. If the bushes are planted in the lowest places in the garden, the likelihood that they will get sick is extremely high. The soil in the lowlands does not pass oxygen well and gradually accumulates moisture, which contributes to the appearance of fungi.

How the disease spreads

It is recommended to study in advance the main ways of spreading a fungal disease. Quite often, downy dew spores pass to neighboring plants when they begin to water the infected bush. The causative agents of the disease, along with water splashes, fall on he althy leaves, after which the infection process begins.

Also, dry, windy weather contributes to the spread of the disease. Fungal spores, along with the wind, spread to plants that grow near the affected gooseberry.

Symptoms and signs of disease

In order to timely determine that the bushes have symptoms of a fungal disease, you need to familiarize yourself with the most common signs of downy dew. There are several symptoms that indicate that the berry is infected:

• White patina. First, a light and loose coating appears on the shoots and leaves, which can be cleaned with a cloth in the first days after infection.
• Spots of dark color. Gradually, the lower and upper leaves begin to become covered with darkish spots, which eventually turn brown. If treatment is not started in a timely manner, gray spot will cover the fruits and stems.
• Deformation of bushes. After a week, the infected bushes begin to look unhe althy. Their main stem and side shoots are bent and deformed. In this case, the deformation is accompanied by the drying out of some branches.
• Twisting the leaves. During the period of active development of false dew, each affected leaf curls and turns yellow. They also become brittle and fall apart if accidentally touched.
• Delayed ripening of berries. Each infected fruit, which is covered with a dense crust, ceases to develop and ripen. Gradually, cracks appear on the surface of the berries, due to which they fall from the bushes.

How to deal with powdery mildew

When the first signs of illness appear, the infected gooseberry must be saved immediately. To do this, you will have to familiarize yourself with common methods of treating false dew in order to choose the most effective one.

Shop chemicals

Some are interested in how to process gooseberries in the summer. In the fight against many diseases, highly effective chemicals are often used, which begin to act immediately after treatment:

• "Topaz". This is the most common chemical used in the treatment of fungal diseases. The drug is used to spray seedlings at least three times a month.
• Tilt. Protective agent, which contains propiconazole. This substance quickly destroys pathogens and prevents gooseberry infection.

Folk remedies

Some people don't want to spray their seedlings with chemicals and use folk remedies instead.

Ash

The use of ash is a common method for eliminating the symptoms of fungal diseases. To prepare a mixture for processing berries, ash is added to 10 liters of water in the amount of 800-900 grams. The bushes are treated with the prepared mixture 2-3 times a week.

Soda

Sometimes gardeners use a mixture of laundry soap and baking soda. When preparing the solution, the following dosage is used: 50 grams of soap is added to 7-8 liters of water, after which soda is poured.

Sodium hydroxide

Another effective remedy against fungi is sodium calcine. To create a mixture for spraying gooseberries, 10 grams of sodium and 200 milliliters of milk are added to half a liter of water. The created mixture is sprayed on each infected leaf and bud.

"Aspirin"

The most affordable remedies include "Aspirin", which is in almost every home. Three tablets of the drug and blue vitriol are added to 700 milliliters of water. The solution helps to get rid of the early stage of downy mildew.

Mullein

Until flowering begins, a mixture of mullein is used to eliminate the disease. The substance is diluted with warm water in a ratio of one to three, after which it is infused for 4-5 days. Before spraying, the liquid is filtered with gauze.

Isopropanol

Isopropanol is used to prepare a medicinal composition that is sprayed on berries. To create it, 50 grams of cinnamon is added to 650 milliliters of the drug. Spraying is carried out at least once a week.

Physical and cultural measures

Some use agricultural and physical measures to treat the disease.In this case, instead of spraying, the infected bushes are cut. If the plant has not been treated for a long time, and it is completely covered with spots, it will have to be disposed of. Such bushes are dug up with roots and burned.

What to do with a crop affected by powdery mildew

Many are interested in whether it is possible to eat gooseberries with powdery mildew. Some argue that it is impossible to eat such fruits, but this is not so. Gooseberry harvesting is carried out, even if all the berries are covered with bloom. All harvested crops will have to be washed and cleaned of plaque before use.

Prevention of disease occurrence

In order to grow and harvest a he althy crop, you will need to familiarize yourself with basic preventive measures.

Choosing disease-resistant gooseberry varieties

There are several varieties of gooseberries that are not affected by powdery mildew. These include:

• Neslukhovsky. This is a high-yielding variety, the fruiting of which occurs in the fall. It is resistant to fungal diseases and low temperatures.
• Cossack. Large-fruited gooseberry, which rarely gets sick and is not attacked by pests. The only serious drawback of Kazachka is a large number of sharp spikes on the stems.

Proper care of gooseberry bushes

Summer is the time when the planted gooseberry bushes must be carefully looked after. When flowers begin to bloom on them and the first berries are tied, it is necessary to intensify watering. You will also have to cut and remove excess shoots.

Carrying out preventive treatments

Prophylactic treatments are needed to protect the berries from false dew. Experts recommend using fungicidal preparations Fitosporin and Prognoz for processing, which prevent the development of fungi.A solution containing iodine and baking soda is also considered an effective remedy.

Timely feeding

Without top dressing, the plant will weaken and start to hurt, so fertilizers are regularly added to the soil. Most often, fresh humus and wood ash are poured into the soil. Mineral fertilizers are also added, which contain potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen.

Conclusion

The most common disease that affects gooseberries is powdery mildew. To cure infected bushes, you need to familiarize yourself with how you can get rid of powdery mildew on gooseberries and what means to use.

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