Using Milk in the Garden

Articles→Edible Landscaping Archive

By Charlie Nardozzi

Powdery mildew can be controlled with sprays of milk on squash and pumpkin leaves.

We all know milk is a great food to eat in many forms, but did you know it's great for plants too? While you've probably heard false rumors of giant pumpkin growers feeding milk to make their pumpkins grow larger, using milk in the garden is not just folklore. There's some science behind it.

For example, it's known that milk has anti-fungal properties and is used around the world to control powdery mildew on squash and melons. Farmers in Brazil and New Zealand, in particular, have used a mixture of 9 parts water and 1 part milk sprayed on plants to prevent this disease from getting started. It seems there are certain amino acids and salts in milk that control this fungal disease. Farmers in these countries get up to 90% control of powdery mildew with milk sprays. While raw milk seems best, farmers in New Zealand have used skim milk with good success.

Not only can milk prevent diseases, it's a disinfectant. Researchers at Ohio State University have found that dipping pruners in milk to disinfect them works just as well as dipping in the usual bleach solution. Recently conducted trials resulted in zero transmission of tobacco mosaic virus from infected to non-infected petunia plants when pruning was done with tools disinfected by either bleach (1:10 dilution) or non-fat dry milk mixed with water. Plus, there's less corrosion on the pruners and skin irritation for the gardener when using milk. They used a non-fat dried milk solution, but perhaps regular milk will do too!.

So tip a glass of milk back for your body and your garden. It's more than a natural.

About Charlie Nardozzi
Thumb of 2020-06-04/Trish/0723fdCharlie Nardozzi is an award winning, nationally recognized garden writer, speaker, radio, and television personality. He has worked for more than 30 years bringing expert gardening information to home gardeners through radio, television, talks, tours, on-line, and the printed page. Charlie delights in making gardening information simple, easy, fun and accessible to everyone. He's the author of 6 books, has three radio shows in New England and a TV show. He leads Garden Tours around the world and consults with organizations and companies about gardening programs. See more about him at Gardening With Charlie.
Victory Seed Company Logo Victory Seed Company has all the seeds you want for your best garden in 2024.

For 25 years, the family-owned Victory Seed Company has provided the highest quality vegetable, herb and flower seeds to families across the country. We are passionate about providing you the best seeds available that give excellent germination, robust plants, and the harvest you want. With a catalog of over a thousand varieties, we have everything, and our prices are the kinds that we'd want to pay. We have hundreds of yesterday's heirloom vegetables, as well as today's award winning hybrid selections. Get to know us by visiting our website and browsing through our online vegetable seed catalog.

This article is categorized under:
This article is categorized under:
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by Zoia and is called "Volunteer"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.