I don't use organic methods for disease control but someone will probably recommend baking soda. For inorganic methods, Walmart sells Daconil, about $12 a bottle. I use it on my tomatoes, pumpkins, corn, etc. I haven't grown cukes in a couple years, otherwise would use it on them too. Mark

The following was asked: "Just curious, Henry, do you ever go out in your garden and just enjoy it? Do you have a garden? Send us some pictures...no research papers required." ------------------------------------------------------- H.Kuska comments: My web page is at: http://home.roadrunner.com/~kuska/ I was one of the founders of the American Rose Society web page. Please see my article: "Roses on the Internet" pages 87-89, The American Rose Annual, 1996. Some of my hybridized roses are listed on Help-Me-Find. My contributions to rose hybridizing can be found by searching the Rose Hybridizers Association Forum. For some time I held the ARS title of something like Consulting Rosarian for Scientific Studies. Because of my interest in the history of roses, I served 2 terms on the ARS historical rose committee. (At one time I had a collection of old rose books, U.S., Canadian, and British Annuals about as complete as anyone that I have met.) From "The Old Rose Advisor" by Brent Dickerson: "Page xi Special assistance in various particulars pertaining to the second edition was provided by Paul Barden, Philippe Gautreau, Henry Kuska, William Grant, Sandy Brown, Robert B. Martin ]r., Karl King, John Starnes ]r., Ingrid Verdegem, Jill Perry, Daniel Lemonnier, Donna Stewart, and Barbara Tchertoff......" , ...". The above quote is from: http://books.google.com/books?id=OTMORC9Sa5oC&pg=PR11&dq=%22old+rose+advisor%22+kuska&hl=en&sa=X&ei=cMkQVJTcIs-zyASvj4KACg&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22old%20rose%20advisor%22%20kuska&f=false I was twice President (the legal limit) of our local Rose Society. For a number of years (4 to 6?) I was the editor of the Akron Rose Rambler. A monthly newsletter with an (including international) subscription list of over 200. I am now 77 with both my wife and I having relatively severe health problems so my rose growing has shrunk from about 1000 roses to about 60. Here is a link that might be useful: link to my web page This post was edited by henry_kuska on Wed, Sep 10, 14 at 18:11

There are two Powdery Mildews that can affect tomatoes, Leveillula, which affects only leaves, and Oidium which also affects leaves but with severe infections can also affect petioles, stems and calyx. The Oidiium type is the one most closely associated with the June Glooms seen in coastal CA. I don't know how well most antifungals will do at this point with this severe infection but the best anti-fungal is Ortho Garden Disease Control which has 29.6% Daconil ( chlorothalonil) Sulfur can also be used but is usually less effective. But since you have just a couple of plants maybe you don't want to spend money for the more expensive Daconil and might give the Sulfur a try. Your choice. Hope that helps. Carolyn

Prevention is the key. You need to start spraying fungicides before you notice the Powdery Mildew. There are various sprays you can use including milk, baking soda, neem oil, synthetic sprays like Daconil, etc. but once your plants have PM your only hope is to slow down the spread. It's something you are going to be battling for the rest of the season. A search over on the Vegetable Gardening Forum will pull up many discussion on PM. Rodney P.S. This forum gets almost no traffic. In the future you might want to post over on the Vegetable forum.