Dealing with powdery mildew

POWDERY mildew looks like a dusting of talcum powder on leaves, reducing their ability to photosynthesise. Snip off affected leaves at the first sign. Follow with a good soaking, pointing the hose at the roots. Avoid high nitrogen fertilisers that encourage mildew-vulnerable soft growth. On gooseberries, mildew is caused by congested growth. Prune in summer to create a plant with an open bowl-shape centre that lets air blow through the centre and remove spores. An open centre also makes it easier to spot gooseberry sawfly.

Keep gooseberries well spaced and ventilated Snip affected leaves of cucurbits showing signs of powdery mildew