Terms of vineyard processing in spring with copper sulfate
With the advent of winter-hardy varieties, grapes are increasingly found in gardens and summer cottages in the middle lane. The main enemy of culture here is fungal pathogens, which can be dealt with by processing grapes in spring with copper sulfate.
The main problem of Russian amateur winegrowers is the insufficient duration of the warm period. In spring, the vine, awakened from winter dormancy, can fall under a wave of return cold weather. In this case, growth buds, leaves and inflorescence rudiments are affected. The second half of summer in a number of regions burns with heat during the day, and refreshes quite well at night.
The contrast of temperatures, as well as the beginning rains and dews, contribute to the development of fungal microflora, which has chosen grapes as one of its main victims.
Features of the use of copper sulfate in viticulture
The use of copper sulfate in viticulture is associated with:
- with chemical availability:
- with its high antifungal activity;
- with the possibility of using as both a therapeutic and prophylactic agent.
The beneficial properties of an inorganic fungicide have been noticed for a long time, but at the same time, growers noted the danger of processing grapes with copper sulfate in spring. Getting into the soil, copper sulphate salt can accumulate, reduce soil fertility and plantation productivity. In addition, the increased acidity of the compound causes burns on greens and ovaries, spoiling the quality of the grapes.
Today, on the basis of copper sulfate, a number of plant protection products have been created, which contain substances that reduce the toxicity of the chemical, but do not detract from its fungicidal qualities.
However, copper sulfate has not lost its relevance. If you adhere to the recommended dosages of copper sulfate when processing grapes in the spring, as well as safety standards, spraying the vine will definitely give the desired effect and help you get a rich harvest from it.
Terms of spring processing of grapes with copper sulfate
Copper sulfate without additives neutralizing its acidity is used in early spring or autumn, when green foliage, flowers and ovaries cannot be harmed. In this case, a solution of blue powder is prepared strictly following the instructions, and the spraying is not repeated in order to avoid an overdose of the agent in the soil.
When and how to process grapes with copper sulfate in spring? The optimal time for this in the southern regions comes in mid-March, when the vine wakes up after hibernation. The north time for processing is chosen based on weather and climatic conditions, as well as when the grapes were removed from the shelter. It is important that the chemical gets on the plant while there is no greenery.
When spraying, young foliage not only risks being burnt, but also blocks access to all parts of the crown.
Repeated treatments, when the buds swell and at the initial phase of flowering, it is safer to carry out not pure copper sulfate, but Bordeaux liquid.In this case, the slaked lime neutralizes the scalding effect of the acidic salt. Burgundy liquid, consisting of solutions of copper sulfate and soda ash, has similar properties.
Before processing grapes copper sulfate in the spring, from under the vines remove plant debris in which bacteria, pests, and fungal spores can hibernate. It is useful to loosen the surface layer of the soil and spill it with a fungicide solution in a concentration safe for plants.
The efforts made will not be wasted. Such processing is an excellent prevention of fungal diseases, which are especially dangerous when pouring berries. But what if there are brown spots or a whitish coating mildew appeared on shoots already bearing ripening clusters?
Is it possible to spray grapes with copper sulfate in the summer? You should not use this chemical in its pure form, but you can treat the vine with Bordeaux liquid until at least 3-4 weeks are left before collecting the brushes.
How to breed copper sulfate for sprinkling grapes
For soil and vine cultivation, a solution of copper sulfate is used at the rate of 50-100 grams of powder per 10 liters of water. Pre-sanitary pruning bushes and remove from under them all plant debris and all removed shoots. The blue powder is dissolved in a small volume of water, and then the saturated blue liquid is diluted to the desired concentration.
For better adhesion of the agent to wood and soil, add 100–150 grams of crushed laundry or liquid soap to the liquid.
It is not recommended to store the solution. Therefore, before diluting copper sulfate for spraying grapes, you need to make sure that the treatment will give the desired effect. Irrigation of bushes is carried out in dry, cool weather so that:
- the sun's rays did not provoke a burn of wood and leaves;
- the rain did not wash away the chemical applied to the plants.
The action of the agent begins 2–4 hours after irrigation and, under favorable conditions, lasts for 1–2 weeks.
Excellent results are obtained in the spring by processing grapes with copper sulfate in combination with slaked lime. This solution is called Bordeaux liquid and is much more popular than a pure product. The preparation of a fungicide has its own characteristics.
Vitriol and lime are dissolved separately from each other in non-food, non-metallic containers. Combine ready-made solutions, which are constantly stirred, and then defended for 3-4 hours and filtered. processing is carried out at an air temperature of 15 to 25 ° C.
For spring and pre-winter processing of the vines and soil under it, a 3% composition is used. When it comes to spraying plants during the growing season, the content of active substances in the liquid is reduced to 1%.
A video about the processing of grapes in spring with copper sulfate will help you to thoroughly study the process, get acquainted with the technology of mixing solutions in order to guarantee a good harvest and prevent annoying mistakes in practice.
Why is the dosage different everywhere? They write 50-100gr, for 10 liters. water, and in the video 150g. for 10 liters. That's not a lot?