Ash-salt Solution

Yes β€” fermented porridge (made from rice, millets, or pulses) can help reduce both downy mildew and powdery mildew, but indirectly and with some limits. Let’s break it down clearly:


βœ… How Fermented Porridge Helps Against Fungal Diseases

🦠 1. Microbial Competition

  • Fermentation produces lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, and sometimes beneficial fungi.
  • When sprayed, these microbes colonize the leaf surface, outcompeting harmful fungi like:
    • Downy mildew (Peronospora)
    • Powdery mildew (Erysiphe, Oidium)

➑️ Result: Fungal spores fail to germinate or spread.


πŸ§ͺ 2. Mild Acidity (pH ~4.5–5)

  • Mildews prefer neutral to slightly acidic (pH 5.5–7).
  • Fermented porridge has lower pH, which:
    • Makes the leaf surface unfriendly to fungal growth.
    • Slows down spore development.

🌱 3. Improves Plant Immunity

  • The nutrients and amino acids in fermented grains stimulate plant defenses.
  • Healthier plants are less vulnerable to fungal attack.

⚠️ Limitations

  • It’s not as strong or fast as ash or baking soda sprays.
  • Best used in early stages or as a preventive, not when disease is severe.
  • If downy mildew is already spreading heavily, combine with stronger remedies like:
    • Wood ash spray
    • Baking soda + neem oil mix
    • Trichoderma foliar spray

🧴 Usage Suggestion for Disease Control

  • Spray fermented porridge (diluted 1:5) every 5–7 days during fungal season.
  • Use with ginger-garlic-chilli paste once a week for better fungal + pest control.
  • In severe infections, alternate with wood ash solution (pH ~10) every 7 days.

Summary:

Aspect Fermented Porridge
Controls downy mildew βœ… Mildly (preventive)
Controls powdery mildew βœ… Mildly (early stage)
Boosts beneficial microbes βœ… High
pH effect Acidic (4.5–5)
Use frequency Every 5–7 days

Let me know your exact issue β€” early signs or heavy infection β€” and I’ll suggest an exact 10-day spray schedule to target it better.