Potato processing before planting from pests

For most people in our country, potato harvest has always had a high priority. It is this crop that gardeners and gardeners most often grow in large quantities. But in order for the crop to come out really glorious, it is necessary to put a lot of effort into growing it.

One of the main reasons for concern of summer residents have always been insect pests. They have to contend with throughout the entire ripening period of potatoes. Otherwise, the result can be pretty sad, and all the costs of effort and money go down the drain.

In this article we will talk about the most dangerous enemies of potatoes and share the most effective ways to combat them.

Many farmers, gardeners and summer residents apply spraying to fight pests. This has to be done regularly, otherwise a new brood will take the place of dead insects. Accordingly, during the period of potato ripening, you have to spend a lot of effort, time and money.

In addition, spraying tops does not save from soil pests that destroy the roots of plants. A lot of nasty insects sleep in the winter in the soil. When the cold leaves, they wake up and start looking for food. At first, these are the roots of all sorts of weeds.

But later, through your efforts, young root vegetables appear in the ground, which attract insects to themselves, like a magnet. They eat potatoes, and the bush weakens. As a result, pests destroy about half of the entire crop.

The most effective solution to this problem is preplant treatment. Of course, this is not a panacea. But the method will noticeably ease your efforts.

In fact, before planting, seed must be treated with poison, which will kill hungry pests. Many fear the terrible word "poison", but do not worry. If the instructions are followed, the potatoes will grow completely natural, non-toxic and will not harm the human body.

First of all, let's get acquainted with the basic rules that must be followed during processing.

Before proceeding to the preparation of solutions, you need to protect yourself. For humans, chemicals do not pose the same serious threat as insects, but they can still be harmful to health. As yours, and the health of others.

Choose the right vestments. The main thing is to protect hands and face. Use rubber gloves. It is best if they are disposable, so that they can be discarded after use. The lower half of the face should be closed with a respirator or at least a gauze bandage.

With careful handling, it is unlikely that the substance gets into the eyes. However, it is worth protecting them by wearing glasses. Such a measure will not be superfluous. Wear clothes with long sleeves. It is desirable that the entire surface of the skin was hidden. After completing the preparation and processing, send the clothes in the wash.

Having taken care of yourself, do not forget to take care of those nearby. There should be no unprotected people, children or pets nearby. And household items should be removed away. If you do it indoors, it should be well ventilated. For example, in the apartment for these purposes a perfect balcony. Just remember to open the windows. Probably, the treated planting material will have to be transported over certain distances. Cover it with a film for this time.

Now more about the rules of processing.

The main thing that is worth remembering, in no case can not handle varieties of early ripening. For this purpose, only mid-season and late potatoes are suitable, whose roots will not be eaten until they are fully ripe. The fact is that the chemical elements that make up the preparations have a long decomposition period. It takes about 50 days.

A certain amount of the substance is diluted in one liter of water. It needs to be stirred until complete dissolution (about 10 minutes). Then an additional amount of water is added.

Prepare the drug should be immediately before treatment. In this case, maintain the highest efficiency of its properties. Although, according to manufacturers, the solution can be stored for up to 3 days, if you keep it in a dark place.

To process the planting material in two ways. The first is to spread it all over the oilcloth and spray it evenly from a spray bottle. The second is to lower each root vegetable in turn into the solution for a few seconds.

After treatment, at least two hours should pass before the seeds can be planted in the soil. Ensure that all planting material is completely dry.

Learn more about how to process potatoes pered before planting, you will learn from the following video.

Next, we proceed to familiarize with the drugs. All of them are divided into 4 groups according to their method of exposure.

• Intestinal - enter the body pests when eating the fetus, causing poisoning. Effective exclusively against gnawing insects.
• Contact - dangerous to most sucking pests like caterpillars and various larvae. Destroy them, falling on the body from the surface of the tubers.
• Systemic - penetrate the plant tissue and poison all its parts. Whatever the insects eat, roots or tops, the poison enters their bodies and kills them.
• Fumigants - gaseous substances sprayed by fumigation. They kill all kinds of pests, getting into their respiratory tract. In household processing are rarely used.

There are quite a few insecticide brands. Almost all of them can handle both tubers and tops. Many drugs contain additional elements that help plants develop better and faster, as well as resist diseases and fungi.

We will list the most famous and sought-after brands that have proven their effectiveness.

In the first place gardeners and gardeners put the drug "Prestige". It copes with such common pests as scab, Colorado potato beetle and rhizoctoniosis. The preparation contains Imidacloprid and Pencycuron, which are considered moderately dangerous for the human body.

Chemicals are removed from the plant two months after treatment. For almost all of this time, they protect the potato from insects. And also for 50 days - from diseases and fungus.

Fifty milliliters of money dissolved in 3 liters of water is enough for 100 kilograms of planting material.

Also often, many gardeners mention the Kruiser drug, noting its reliability and benefit. It is a high concentration suspension. The composition mainly includes thiamethoxam. This substance is well combined with many fungicidal agents, so you can safely carry out combined processing.

The drug is moderately hazardous and decomposes within 50 days. It is enough to dilute 40 milliliters of the “Kruiser” in 3 liters of water to process 100 kilograms of seeds.

With the invasion of the Colorado beetles and Medvedki help “Confidor”, about which gardeners respond only positively. It consists of imidacloprid. The properties of the substance are stored for two months. In 10 liters of water, it is enough to dilute one milliliter of the substance so that it firmly protects your potatoes from many threats.

"Maxim" also has a lot of positive reviews, but it is used most often in conjunction with the drug "Prestige". Together they provide maximum protection against insects, diseases and rot.

The composition of "Maxim" includes fludioxonil.This is an antibiotic that is held in the ground for one month. The proportions are 10 milliliters of funds per 5 liters of water. One liter of the solution can be processed one kilogram of planting potatoes.

Taboo is another high concentration suspension. Produced in Russia. The active ingredient in the composition is imidacloprid. The remedy is moderately hazardous. Holds protection for up to 40 days. Per 100 kilograms of seed enough to dilute 8 ml of the drug in one liter of water.

"Tirana" is distinguished by its complex effect on the roots of the plant. The tool will protect your potatoes from the Colorado potato beetle for more than one month. Tubers should be processed in a solution of 50 milliliters of the drug per half liter of water.

"Celeste Top" is not a universal tool, but very close to it. It combines insecticidal and fungicidal properties, thereby suppressing many diseases and insects for 30 days. However, the drug is highly toxic and is a serious danger to the human body. When working with him you need to be extremely careful.

The proportions of the solution are 10 milliliters of a substance for two and a half liters of water. This is enough to process 100 kilograms of planting material.

A newcomer to the chemical market is Emesto Quantum. It is also an insecticide antifungal against a whole range of threats. With him, the wireworms, aphids, Colorado beetles, Rhizoctoniosis and scab are both scary and silver.

"Commander" - another representative of the most modern innovative products. It is a concentrated emulsion. Very economical. Only one milliliter of the substance is consumed per liter of water. Protective properties will remain for 50 days. However, when processing this drug should watch the time closely. Between spraying and planting potatoes should take at least half an hour and no more than 2 hours.

Brand "Matador" provides a choice of two types of their funds "Matador Grand" and "Matador Ultra." The first contains a number of substances, among which insect fungicide, metalaxyl, imidacloprid and cymoxanil. However, with this kit, the drug retains a moderate level of toxicity.

It is a suspension and can protect potatoes from various threats for up to 45 days. When preparing the solution should be applied 90 ml of funds per liter of water.

"Matador Ultra" is a simpler drug in its composition. It is limited to insecticidal and fungicidal properties, protecting plants from many pests and diseases. To process 30 kilograms of potatoes, you need to prepare a solution of 25 milliliters of the drug and 300 milliliters of water.

But it is also worth paying a share of attention to biological agents, such as Agravertin, Fitoverm and Bicol. They are distinguished by their non-toxicity and are absolutely harmless to the environment and the human body. The impact of these compounds reduces the activity of pests and completely destroys them within two weeks. The main disadvantage of biological agents - they are not able to affect the tops and larvae of Colorado beetles, which are located there.

So let's summarize and define the advantages which possesses preplant processing of potatoes.

• Increased efficiency. It is provided already on the fact of the procedure itself. But there is always an opportunity to improve the result by correctly combining several drugs.
• Most of the funds operate in several directions at once.They help suppress diseases, fungi and destroy pests.
• The effect of the drugs is valid throughout the maturation of the potato.
• Increases immunity and resistance of plants, which has a positive effect on the volume of the future harvest.
• Helps potatoes to be stored better for a long time after harvest.
• Saves your time and energy. It is enough to carry out the treatment correctly once, so as not to resort to external spraying several times a season.
• It is profitable from a financial point of view. Most of the listed drugs have an affordable price.

Despite the fact that many gardeners speak about preplant processing exclusively from a positive position, the procedure has its disadvantages.

Most of them stem from the toxicity of drugs. They can be highly dangerous or moderately dangerous, and in any case can cause harm to human health. Therefore, do not take carelessly of instructions.

There is a risk of irreparable damage to the crop. If you do not follow the specified dosages and concentrations, you can unwittingly destroy all planted potatoes. And even after proper processing and complete elimination of toxins, it cannot be called absolutely clean from an environmental point of view.

Chemists of manufacturers conduct a lot of research to produce effective drugs with a minimally low level of toxicity. However, it is completely impossible to get rid of it, since the principle of the influence of these funds is built on it.

Often a set of different properties directly affects the level of toxicity of the drug. You should not resort to the most universal means in the event of the slightest threat.

The simplest of insecticides act selectively. They are the safest for humans and only work on certain types of insects.

The most common and dangerous enemy of potatoes in our country is the Colorado potato beetle. If time does not take action, he can cause enormous damage to the crop. Against him should use the drug "Prestige". Imidacloprid in its composition not only destroys insects on the surface of the leaf, but does not allow it to lay eggs.

No less common most dangerous pest - Medvedka. This threat must be identified as quickly as possible in order not to delay its destruction. Insect in a short time captures the entire area and can kill about 15 bushes of potatoes in less than a day.

To defeat her, will have to make more effort than for other insects. Planting material needs to be treated with a “Prestige” or “Cruiser”, but this will not be enough. Together with potatoes it is recommended to place baits in the holes, which may be maize, sunflower or wheat seeds. They need to soak in pesticides. If everything is done correctly, Medvedka will die within three days. In stores you can buy ready-made baits, such as Grizzly, Medvetoks or Thunder.

The wireworm (got its name for the appearance that looks like a piece of wire) is an insect that is dangerous not only for potatoes. It destroys the roots of many cultivated crops, gnawing at them moves. To fight any of the above insecticide-fungicidal agents. In this case, planting material can be processed directly in the wells.

On the territory of Russia, the potato began to spread in the middle of the XVIII century. And already then the locals had to face the threat of pests. However, insecticides have not yet existed. I had to use what is at hand.

To this day, folk methods retain their effectiveness.If you assess the level of threat and decide that you should not poison your site with chemistry, you can use one of the “old-fashioned” methods. Such funds are prepared from improvised means and absolutely harmless.

In ancient times, villagers used kiln ash in the fight against insects. Today it is not enough in what house the furnace is found, but it is still possible to extract ashes. One part of it is enough to dissolve in 10 parts of water, and you get an effective tool for processing planting potatoes.

Copper sulphate has also proven its worth. Dilute one gram of substance to one liter of water.

Potassium permanganate can be processed not only potatoes, but also many other vegetables. Seeds should be soaked in a solution of one gram of substance per 10 liters of water.

By the same principle acts boric acid. But its 10 liters of water requires 15 grams.

Potato tubers can be processed in birch tar solution (one cup per liter of water). It is recommended to add it to the wells, but in a low concentration (one glass per watering can with water).

Russian gardeners have always paid much attention to preventive work. A threat is easier to warn than to deal with it. To scare off pests are often used:

• substances containing alkali scare away many insects - they sprinkle the soil on them;
• dry mustard - is added to the soil in the wells before placing there potato seeds;
• Onion Husk - one handful in one hole when planting.

In addition to the above, needles, iodine or fish can scare off insects.

There are many different tools on the market today. But the summer residents of the old school continue to use popular methods. This speaks not so much about the conservatism of people, as about the effectiveness of the old ways.

Many of them have additional features. For example, copper sulphate is not only harmful for insects, but also prevents a dangerous disease - late blight. And potassium permanganate destroys various bacteria that are pathogens.

A new method was developed: plant various vegetables on one plot in a staggered manner. So, your potatoes can be protected by spring garlic. Or sow mustard and lupine seeds between the holes.

In conclusion, we will share with you the advice of experienced gardeners and gardeners. By following them, you will increase the level of security in your area without harming the harvest itself.

• Change drugs. Completely get rid of pests will not work. They will return every year. Soon insects will get used to the tools that you use against them and will not be exposed to them. Choose to treat drugs with active substances that you have not used in the past year.
• When using several drugs at once, carefully study the instructions. Not all of them can act together in a positive way. The induced chemical reaction can neutralize the effect or, in the worst case, harm the crop.
• Planting varieties resistant to the Colorado potato beetle will avoid the use of excess chemicals.
• Pay attention to the areas fertilized by manure. At such places, Medvedka appears much more often.
• Prefer preplant treatment, as it is harmless to other insects. After all, some of them, on the contrary, are beneficial. For example, bees will be able to pollinate flowers without dying, which will have a positive effect on the harvest.