Re: Got Milk! for fungi and mildew... (Rosenlund)

**"Don - NJ" godfatha@hotmail.com>**

>From: rose-list-admin@mallorn.com

>Message: 1
>
>I've just received several articles from a friend stating that milk is a
>great tool for fighting fungi and mildew on roses and garden crops.
>
>One source (a Master Gardener's Newsletter which refers to "Organic
>Gardening" as it's source) suggests that 1 cup of whole milk to 9 cups of
>water sprayed once or twice a week will do the trick.
>
>The other source (a local newspaper, saying Danish rose growers and organic
>nurseries us this) suggests using 1 part skim milk to 1 part water and 
>apply
>with a spray bottle mist will help with blackspot.  [This source also says
>to remove infected leaves, clean up and layer mulch.]
>
>Has anyone tryed this?
>What do ya think?

This isn't as nutty as it looks at first.

The idea behind it is that in certain situations, the fungi that attack 
roses (e.g.,  powdery mildew) are themselves attacked and neutralized by 
bacteria.  A common bacteria that does this also happens to be one of those 
that causes milk to "spoil" (a lactobacillus).  So the idea is that the milk 
will attract the bacteria which will then destroy any fungus spores that 
happen to germinate.

There is even a commercial product based on just this principle (the product 
is mostly dried milk and bacteria inoculant).

There isn't anything new about this (at least in general).  Fungi are ALWAYS 
attacked by one bacteria or another.  Just as we ourselves are.  And just as 
we usually fend off the attacks, so do the fungi. So I don't know that any 
of this will be effective in a garden setting, but I suppose that there 
isn't any harm trying it out.

However,  I'll let others do that.  I will just stick to roses that can 
tolerate a little mildew.

BTW, since yoghurt already contains quite a collection of lactobacilli, it 
would seem even more effective to spray diluted yoghurt instead of milk, but 
no one has suggested that yet.  I'm waiting for it, however.

Don from New Jersey

________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

_______________________________________________
rose-list maillist  -  rose-list@mallorn.com
https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/rose-list