straw for mulch this year

[catfishtony]

you mite be a red-neck if you use your wife's mini van to haul straw
this is powdery mildew
last week we had a very bad case of it in the side yard.
any ideas on how to stop it before it get to the tomatoes?
my wife dee in the garden.

we covered a bed of straw down first then laid
it all out in the leafs like tiles over the garden area this year.

and me doing the florida weave again.
we a had a good day working out side all day untill dark then grilled out steaks and corn on the cob. then a bomb fire and sleep out side by the garden under stars. woke up at 6am sore! i am just not 20 anymore.

[lored]

Molasses and water spray is supposed to be very good. I bought some molasses foliar spray called VACCINATE at ACE hardware that had very good reviews. It is organic and the website showed some rather remarkable pictures of half of an untreated field looking really crappy and the other treated half being disease free. A bottle runs about $10, but I think that you could also mix some up yourself.

wetandforget.com/gallery_vaccinate.php

Vaccinate is a foliar spray to help prevent disease and yellowing of foliage. It also increases growth and promotes good plant health. Vaccinate stimulates your plant’s natural immune system to ward off disease and plant stress. It is a carbon based (molasses) foliar spray and contains Salicylic Acid for systemic acquired resistance. Vaccinate can be used on indoor and outdoor plants.

How Vaccinate Works

Vaccinate utilizes a holistic approach to plant health by building stronger plants. Salicylic Acid activates the plant’s natural immune system, reducing yellowing of foliage and building drought, heat and frost tolerance. Vaccinate is carbon based. Carbon is the building block of all life and buffers all nutrients in the soil. Without carbon, plants become stressed, which leads to disease. No carbon in the soil equals no growth -- it’s that simple! And Vaccinate works quickly -- your plant starts to absorb Vaccinate within 20-30 seconds of application.

Vaccinate Details
Totally Organic
Holistic Approach to Plant Health
Carbon Based Foliar Spray
Includes Plant Derived Salicylic Acid for Systemic Acquired Resistance
Builds Heat, Drought and Frost Tolerance
Builds Disease Tolerance
Promotes Good Plant Health
Great for Indoor/Outdoor Plants
Not Subject To Fertilizer Restrictions
Chemical free
Safe around children and pets
No groundwater contamination
Bigger, stronger plants
Stronger, healthier root system
Brighter flowers
Deeper, greener leaves

The homemade method is :

◦Mix 1 tablespoon of molasses in 1 litre of water.
◦Add a drop of liquid soap, detergent or horticultural oil (eg White oil, Eco-oil etc…).
◦Shake well.
◦Apply to all parts of the plant.
◦Reapply weekly for complete protection.
◦Do not store the mixture. Make a fresh batch each time.

You may need to fully dissolve the molasses in a little warm water initially and then add in the rest of the water straight from the tap or hose.

You should use the high sulphur molasses because sulphur kills powdery mildew. According to some of the sites, it also works against pests like caterpillars.

LoreD