powdery mildew The scourge of the garden. Sometimes fatal, but mostly annoying, it covers the foliage with a white powder that makes the plants look bad.

There are two things you can do to help prevent powdery mildew from forming on your plants: Space them far enough apart so air can circulate freely around them, and don’t water them after noon. Wet foliage after sunset is a favorite host for mold spores.

No need to mount a full frontal assault with a host of toxic chemicals. Powdery mildew can be treated and sometimes even eradicated by using common household ingredients. Below are 7 home preparations you can use to treat powdery mildew in your garden.

But first, some general instructions for treating white powdery mildew with antifungal preparations: Spray plants with a hose before treating them with these preparations to remove as much mold from the surface as possible. Be sure to cover all parts of the plant with the spray treatment, including the undersides of leaves and stems. Sprinkle some on the ground around the plant as well. Finally, spray against mold early in the morning before the sun gets too high in the sky. Mist plants once or twice a week in dry weather and more often if it rains.

Apple cider vinegar. Mix 3 tablespoons of cider vinegar with a gallon of water. Also works on black spot on roses and aspens.

Baking soda. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 2 1/2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, and a gallon of water. Shake well, then add 1/2 teaspoon of Castile soap. Shake the container while spraying your plants to prevent the oil and water from separating.

Chive Use a handful of freshly cut scallions, as many as you can hold in a closed hand without dropping them. Chop the fries and place them in a heat-resistant glass container. Cover with boiling water and let stand until cool. Muscle tension.

Corn and Garlic. Take a handful of corn husks, along with a handful of clematis leaves and as many paper-like outer skins of garlic as possible. Pulverize in blender or food processor. Mix enough water to make a thin liquid. Let the mixture sit for an hour, then strain. This also works as a preventative against powdery mildew.

Horseradish. Place a cup of chopped roots in a food processor and process until finely chopped. Combine with 2 cups of water in a glass container. Let sit for 24 hours, then strain and discard solids. Mix strained liquid with 2 quarts of water. This mixture is also an effective preventative against mold and mildew.

Hydrogen peroxide. Spray regular hydrogen peroxide (the drugstore kind, not the food-grade kind) full strength on the affected plants. Do not spray on newly transplanted plants or young seedlings until well established. Test a small area of ​​the plant and wait 24 hours to see if it has any negative reaction to hydrogen peroxide. This works as both a treatment and a preventative.

Milk. Mix one part of milk with 2 parts of water. Spray every 3 to 4 days at the first sign of mold. The milk changes the pH of the surface of the plant’s leaves and prevents mold from adhering to them. It can also be used as a preventive measure.

Copyright Sharon Sweeny, 2009. All rights reserved.