How can you stop the spread of downy mildew in tomatoes?

When you have a vegetable garden, mildew is one of the most dreaded diseases in gardening, but even more so when you practise permaculture! However, we're going to reveal all the techniques and tips that will help you get rid of it!

Mildew, the scourge of all gardeners

To preserve a garden, it's imperative to combat the pests and diseases that are linked to every vegetable and fruit. Tomatoes are one of the favourite targets of downy mildew. This disease is typical of tomatoes. However, there are several forms of downy mildew. It is often referred to as "tomato blight". This form of downy mildew is "phytophthora infestans". Caused by a fungus, it develops in contact with a damp atmosphere and in hot weather.

Some regions of France are more affected than others by this terrible plague. If you live in a region where the climate has a humidity level of over 85% and a temperature of around 20°C, there's a good chance you won't be able to escape this devastating disease. If you don't intervene quickly, the whole crop may suffer the consequences. Yet to be avoided in permaculture, Bordeaux mixture is very often the answer to a major infestation of the disease.

How to combat mildew in your vegetable garden

Are the tomatoes in your vegetable garden contaminated by downy mildew? Don't panic, because even if there really is no miracle treatment to combat this disease, there are solutions to eradicate it! Firstly, you need to know that the weather is a good indicator of how to protect against the appearance of mildew. You can then apply a preventive treatment to your tomatoes. If you're new to gardening, you should be aware that mildew generally appears following episodic storms. Certain times of the year are favourable. You can therefore anticipate the onset of mildew and take steps to prevent the disease from affecting your crop. On our website, we provide you with additional advice on how to have beautiful, healthy tomatoes.

Techniques for getting rid of downy mildew that has affected your tomato crop

Mildew can be recognised by the brownish spots that develop on the front and take on a white powdery appearance on the back of the leaf. At an advanced stage, the fruit will also be impacted by the effects of downy mildew. They will also show brown spots. You will then no longer be able to eat your tomatoes because they will no longer be edible.

Although radical when your plants are affected by mildew, in permaculture, Bordeaux mixture is still a very heavy treatment that is best avoided as long as possible! Here are a few wise techniques to help eliminate downy mildew from your tomatoes:

• Choose a tomato variety that is by nature resistant to mildew such as the Fantasio variety or the Maestria variety;
• Use a solution of bicarbonate of soda with added liquid black soap as a spray. This is a natural ingredient for stopping the development of the fungus that causes mildew;
• Place a copper wire in the stem of your tomato plant. This is a technique that some gardeners use to stop the disease progressing;
• Plant Chinese chives or basil near your plants. These pretty aromatic plants are renowned for their active properties against mildew;
• Install your plants in a greenhouse. This is certainly the most effective method of protecting your plants from mildew. The less wet the leaves, the less chance mildew has of spreading!