Peronosporoz of cucumbers

Peronosporosis or false powdery mildew is a disease that affects the leaves of cucumbers and their closest relatives - squash and pumpkin. Once the disease was known only in the Far East, but in the 80's the mushroom of peronosporosis appeared in our strip, leading to the destruction of large quantities of the crop.

The cause of the appearance of peronosporosis is most often the increased humidity, since zoospores of the fungus penetrate into the leaves of the plant precisely in the presence of moisture. Also, the seeds of cucumber may initially be infected with the disease. Peronosporoz can winter in old leaves, so it is best to always burn them.

False mildew of cucumbers affects only the leaves, but because it is through them that the process of photosynthesis takes place, giving the whole plant nutrients obtained through sunlight, then the plant without leaves quickly dies. Peronosporoz can attack cucumbers at any time - at the very beginning of the season, when only young leaves appeared, in the middle or at the end of the season. But most actively peronosporoz cucumbers behave in August, because at this time there is a temperature change - the day is hot, and at night it is cool, which leads to the appearance of moisture, creating a good environment for the development of the fungus.

Also, you need to pay attention to the fact that the powdery mildew can affect not only the ground cucumbers, but also greenhouse .

Finding peronosporoz is very simple - on the leaves of the plant appear yellow spots, the number of which is constantly increasing, and on the reverse side of the sheet appears something like a gray plaque.

How to avoid peronosporosis?

1. First, there are cucumbers that are not affected by this disease. This can be asked in the store, choosing seeds.
2. Secondly, use precautions. Seeds of cucumbers before planting are best treated with a solution of potassium permanganate to destroy the fungus, if it has already initially affected your seeds. It is also better not to plant cucumbers every year in one place, since if in the previous season cucumbers were ill, peronosporosis could remain in the soil.
3. Thirdly, it is desirable to water cucumbers with warm water. And, if you grow them in a greenhouse, carefully ventilate the room to avoid excessive moisture.

Means of fighting with peronosporosis

To begin with, if the peronosporous attacked cucumbers at the end of the season, it's easier to do nothing, but simply to harvest, since the fungus does not affect the fruits at all and they remain the same edible. Similarly, you can do if the mushroom "attacked" cucumbers in the middle of the season. The plant does not die immediately, so a number of cucumbers still have time to mature. You can try to support the plant by sprinkling its leaves with a solution of phytosporin or sour milk.

But if you want to collect your legal crop or peronosporoz from cucumbers, you were discovered at the very beginning of the season, when also fruits did not appear, then only chemical measures against mild powdery mildew can help you. Sprinkle cucumbers can Bordeaux fluid or any other means containing copper, since the fungus of feathers is very afraid of it. Also, about chemicals, you can consult the store, where you will be able to tell the best tool. Be sure to follow the rules for the use of chemicals, since they can be poisonous.

We hope that our advice will help you in the fight against peronosporosis of cucumbers. Of course, it is better that this mushroom generally bypassed your beds, but now, in case of an enemy invasion, you will know the means of fighting it. After all, as they say, warned - it means armed.