Gooseberries have a bright, unique taste and contain a huge amount of vitamin C. The appearance of a white coating on a shrub may indicate the presence of powdery mildew on the plant. This type of fungus develops rapidly, infecting other plants, as a result, it can destroy them. Therefore, you should learn how to deal with powdery mildew on gooseberries and when to carry out prevention.
How to recognize powdery mildew
Powdery mildew is a spherotek fungus that spreads through spores, falling on vegetation from neighboring plants that suffer from it. It affects not only gooseberries, but also currants, cucumbers and other crops. Wet weather and a temperature of 17-28 degrees contribute to its development.
The main symptom of powdery mildew is a whitish-gray coating on fruits and leaves. It is quite thin and looks like dust inthe beginning of the disease, but over time it becomes denser, begins to turn black. Small brown balls appear on the surface of the leaf - these are the fruiting bodies of the sferoteka mushroom. Powdery mildew can be seen already during the blooming of the plant, then on ripening berries and new shoots.
How powdery mildew spreads
Leaves that are sick begin to dry out, and the shoots become crooked at the ends, darken and die. Most often, the disease affects leaves and shoots that are near the ground. But over time, the infection rises gradually higher and infects the entire plant. If you do not figure out how to deal with powdery mildew on gooseberries, if the berries have already appeared, then they will crack and rot.
In winter, the sphere library is located on the tops of the gooseberry shoots of the current year. Favorable conditions contribute to the development of the fungus, during which there is an active release of spores. Further, the disease spreads throughout the plant, inhibiting its vital activity. Affected bushes become crooked and stop growing. Powdery mildew should be controlled, both on gooseberries, currants, and other plants that are susceptible to this disease.
Factors affecting the development of powdery mildew
Powdery mildew begins to spread in high humidity during warm weather. The most favorable conditions for its growth are moderate air temperature, while humidity should be about 90%. During hot days, when the thermometer showsvalues above 28 degrees, the fungus slows down its development and begins to die.
The degree of development of powdery mildew is highly dependent on the climate in the season in which it appears on the plant. This is due to weather conditions, which may vary over several years. In a period of two to three days to a week, the disease affects all young growths and ovaries. In a hot year, when there is little rain, the spores of the fungus do not develop well, so summer residents can enjoy a rich harvest of gooseberries.
The following factors influence the spread of powdery mildew:
· using some soil leavening agents to grow a plant;
distance between gooseberry bushes;
· over watering, etc.
Powdery mildew affects plants that grow in low places in the garden faster and more abundantly. The soil there breathes worse, and water often collects in the lowlands, which is ideal conditions for the fungus to develop.
The summer residents themselves can also provoke outbreaks of the disease in their vegetation. They can heavily flood gooseberry bushes, and also use dark materials as mulch. When using such agricultural practices, the humidity and air temperature directly near the plant increase, which has a beneficial effect on the fungus and its reproduction.
Also, some insects can be the cause of the disease. Leaves that have been eaten or shriveled are the most vulnerable to fungus. The appearance of a largetoo many shoots can cause over-thinning and improper pruning.
How to deal with powdery mildew on gooseberries
In order to get rid of powdery mildew, first of all you need to cut off all the diseased parts and burn them. If this is not done, then a large number of harmful spores will accumulate on them, in the spring they will infect new branches, as well as other shrubs. It is important to know how to deal with powdery mildew on gooseberries. In case of disease, plants are treated with fungicides at least a month before harvest.
Why does powdery mildew appear
Powdery mildew spores are always in the soil. They are found extremely rarely, because they begin to manifest themselves only in certain conditions. In sunny and warm weather, good watering and plant nutrition, the fungus in rare cases can infect the shrub. When the temperature drops to 12-15 degrees, which lasts for some time, powdery mildew begins to actively manifest itself.
So, let's highlight the main factors that contribute to the infection of plants:
damp, cool weather with high humidity around 80%;
excess nitrogen in the ground;
· planted too densely;
· the soil was very dry at first, and then flooded with water;
· watering the plant occurs even if the top layer of the earth is not yet dry after the previous irrigation.
Such conditions are favorable for spores of the fungus, in which case they wake up and can infect other plants. Costsnote that they are able to be transported quite quickly with the help of wind or water. Another option for their distribution is the clothes and skin of a gardener who, in contact with an infected plant, transfers the disease to a he althy one.
What activities are carried out in the fight against the fungus
The easiest way is to take preventive measures in time than to treat gooseberries from powdery mildew later. Strict adherence to certain rules will help to get a good harvest of berries. They begin to fight powdery mildew on gooseberries, both in autumn and early spring.
Fungus control measures are divided into:
· agrotechnical;
· natural and chemical external treatments;
Preventive methods.
Such measures are aimed at improving the plant's own protective capabilities, as well as at the fastest maturation of their integumentary tissues.
Disease prevention
In order to avoid the appearance of powdery mildew, you must:
· periodically thin out plants;
· pluck the bottom leaves as they are in contact with the ground;
· water plants when the ground is well dry;
· do not get carried away with nitrogen fertilizers;
· feed plants with phosphorus-potassium mixtures.
In early spring, before the trees bud, gooseberries are poured with boiling water. This procedure is carried out instantly, using a watering can. poured overbranches completely, not lingering on one of their sections. Such a quick exposure to boiling water will not harm the plant, but powdery mildew spores will have time to die. You can also use a household steam cleaner.
Powdery mildew treatment
To effectively cure the disease, the mycelium and spores of the fungus should be removed.
How to deal with powdery mildew on gooseberries?
· stop all spraying;
· do not feed those gooseberry bushes where the fungus is already showing;
· make the lighting of plants as good as possible;
· thin out planted bushes, get rid of dried leaves and branches;
· plants planted in pots need to renew the topsoil;
· Water or spray gooseberries and the ground around them with fungus.
You can use special products or self-made substances.
How to deal with powdery mildew on gooseberries with folk remedies
Soapy Soda Ash Emulsion:
liquid soap - 5 grams;
Soda ash - 25 grams;
Hot water - 5 liters.
It is necessary to add soda ash to hot water and stir the composition until it is completely dissolved, gradually adding liquid soap there. After the mixture has cooled, process the gooseberry bushes and the soil near them (its upper layer). The procedure should be done at least 2 times every week.
Horsetail decoction:
fresh horsetail grass - 100 grams;
water - 1 liter.
The plant is placed in water for a day. Then it is boiled for 2 hours. When the broth has cooled, it is filtered from the grass. Store the infusion in a cool place, away from sunlight and light for a week. Before applying the product, it must be diluted with water 1:5. Treat gooseberry bushes every 5 days, doing the procedure 3-4 times.
Soap emulsion of vitriol:
- soap - 50 grams;
- vitriol - 5 grams;
- water - 5 liters.
Dissolve vitriol and soap in different glasses with warm water. Then both products are combined, gradually pouring vitriol into the soapy solution, constantly stirring the resulting mixture. The diseased plants are treated with the prepared product 2-3 times every 7 days.
Powdery mildew chemicals
Topaz, a fungicide often used in the treatment of various fungal infections, is the most commonly used remedy by gardeners. Its main active ingredient is penconazole. For spraying gooseberries, dissolve 1 ampoule in 10 liters of water and 5 liters for flowers. Apply only a fresh solution, evenly distributing it throughout the plant. It is processed every 2 weeks, since its protective properties end after this time. Topaz is dangerous to fish and moderately toxic to humans and animals.
Tilt CE is a systemic fungicide that is used as a cure and prevention of fungus. The active ingredient is propiconazole. It is a concentrated emulsion. The tool is able to suppress the formation of spores of the fungus, which prevents the development of the disease. It can get into the tissues of the plant, which makes it moisture resistant. It has a long duration of action, at elevated temperatures the effectiveness of the product is enhanced.
The emulsion is prepared shortly before treatment at a concentration of 0.4-0.5 ml. per liter of water. It should not be used at temperatures above 29 degrees and humidity less than 60%. The product protects plants for about 3 weeks, and a noticeable result occurs after 2 hours. The drug poses a danger to fish and bees.
Weak spots of powdery mildew
Before you deal with powdery mildew on gooseberries, you should take into account that the disease is fungal in nature. Three methods of plant treatment are used: agrotechnical, chemical, and agrochemical. When using the first method, you must immediately cut off the places where the fungus accumulates, and also do a planned pruning of the shoots before and at the end of the growing season of the plant. It is better to do preliminary prevention of such a phenomenon as gooseberry powdery mildew. It is not too early to fight the disease in spring, with the advent of heat, you need to start freeing the bushes from damaged and old branches, and the ground from last year's foliage.
Keep in mind that mushrooms form spores 2 times a year. Therefore, gooseberries need to be processed before and after its flowering, as well as when autumn comes. It is better to carry out the procedure in the evening, generouslywatering the entire plant and the soil underneath. To do this, use a broad spectrum sprayer, carefully irrigating the wrong side of the gooseberry leaves. Before you fight powdery mildew on gooseberries, you need to remove its affected areas even before you start processing the plant.
If the shoots are formed correctly, they will be strong and able to resist powdery mildew. Gooseberries should be fed with potash and phosphate fertilizers. Avoid the use of nitrogen fertilizers, they inhibit the growth of shoots, which leads to their defeat by the fungus. If a large area with plants has been damaged, then strong chemicals should be used.
Starting to fight powdery mildew, both on gooseberries and other plants, should be done with the onset of spring. Using natural methods or chemical means, bushes should be regularly treated with them. Also, experienced gardeners recommend timely treatment of the disease and its periodic prevention. It is necessary to fight powdery mildew on gooseberries, both in June and in autumn, after the end of the active growth of the plant.
