Downy Mildew on Cucumbers

Bob Mulrooney, Extension Plant Pathologist; bobmul@udel.edu

Downy mildew on cucumber is increasing slowly. There was a recent find near Salisbury, MD and now in Virginia Beach and Suffolk, VA on cucumber this week. The two finds in DE were light infections but growers should maintain preventative sprays for downy mildew control. Infections have been limited to cucumber so far. If the temperatures fall into the 80s and we get some more rainfall look for downy to spread to other areas. The weather pattern on Wednesday and Thursday of this week was very favorable for spread of downy mildew into the Delmarva area.