ctn,

Every year here in N. California, I do battle with Powdery Leaf Mildew:

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I have found a commercial product called Serenade to be very effective in combating it:

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If it is not available in your Country, I have heard of other home remedies made from powdered milk, as I recall. You can do a search on GW for the disease, and it will show you posts.

Raybo

I usually get PM every year. The Serenade didn't work too well for me in years past so I'm trying a 30% milk foliar spray applied weekly, and so far so good. The real test will be in July though when the plants get huge (less air circulation) and there's some humidity.

If you think your plant is going to bit the dust though, pick the tomatoes and put them in a brown paper bag where they can ripen.

To directly answer your question on whether you can pick the green fruits from the plant the answer is yes, you can.

It comes at a cost though. If the fruits are completely green, they won't ripen off the plant. If there is even a little blushing to them they likely will. There are a number of chemicals that contribute to the overall flavor of the ripe fruit though and removed from the plant, they don't make it to the fruit so there is often some flavor loss when ripening off vine.

I am really sorry to hear about your experience, but I would recommend the same thing as Raybo, find a fungicide that is food safe and seems likely to be effective against common foliage pathogens like PM and use them as needed. There are organic and synthetic options, but I don't know what is available to you where you live.

It sounds like your one plant is too far gone to be saved, but you might wish to use a fungicide you are comfortable with as a preventative on the ones remaining so they don't suffer the same fate.

Thank you so much for all your advice! I will see what I can find here in Bermuda and I'll pick the tomatoes that are showing sign of blushing.

See link below for "Cornell Formula"
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/rosesorg/msg05130436893.html

New to gardening I was also sadddened when my GREAT looking Tomato Plants grown upside down in containers were overtaken by powdery mildew. Almost overnight 2 of my 4 plants looked like they were about to croak. PM is apparently not fatal; but I'm not sure my plants got that memo!!
I sprayed them one week ago and removed all of the effected leaves ... leaving mostly bare branches on one of my plants.
They seem to be doing well.. no new mildew and lots of new growth.
Good Luck!!
P.S.... It seems the mildew occurred due to lack of circulation in my soil.. I had a bright idea to cover the top of my containers to conserve water loss and to reduce watering... DO NOT DO THIS.. the idea was not so bright!! :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Cornell Formula

PM is not caused by lack of circulation in the soil, but in the atmosphere surrounding the foliage. PM prone plants should be pruned lightly in order to increase the circulation and sunlight penetration.

Early stages of PM can be rinsed off the foliage. Spraying with a hose will also prevent new lesions from forming. This is one of the few fungal disorders that does NOT thrive in water.

Neem oil is also very effective in preventing PM.