Spring grape processing copper and iron sulfate

In the spring, it is necessary to treat the grapes with various preparations. Among them, substances such as copper and iron vitriol are particularly important.

Iron vitriol (ferrous sulfate heptahydrate) is an excellent tool for controlling various kinds of pests. It kills not only insects, but also mosses with lichens. However, this is only one item on the list of benefits.

This drug is also suitable for combating plant diseases and prevention. Iron sulfate will help protect your grapes from diseases such as mildew, oidium and anthracosis.

It is a good fertilizer for many plants, as it has a high iron content. This element improves photosynthesis and promotes maturation.

Iron sulfate is a chemical substance from the discharge of crystalline hydrates. One ferrous sulphate molecule is firmly bound to seven H2O molecules, which are easily split off if the substance is dissolved in water. In this case, it turns into a salt like ordinary ferrous sulfate. Often, such solutions with water are a mixture of different salts, since ferrous sulfate is oxidized with oxygen over time.

Copper sulfate (copper sulfate pentahydrate) is in many respects similar to its counterpart in composition and properties. He also refers to the crystalline hydrates. One molecule of bivalent copper sulfate is firmly bound to five H2O molecules, which are also easily split off when dissolved in water, after which it is converted to copper sulfate.

In contrast to the iron, copper sulfate crystals have a blue color. This compound is more stable and can absorb moisture from the air. But when weathering, too, loses its original pleasant appearance. Copper sulphate dissolves better in water when heated.

Gardeners tend to use copper sulfate for disinfecting purposes. Processing them will help protect the grapes from many dangerous diseases, including fungal. And also the drug is suitable for pest control. For example, with phylloxera - the most terrible enemy of vineyards.

The toxicity of copper sulfate is somewhat higher than iron. But at observance of permissible concentration does not pose a threat to the human body. Both species work superficially without penetrating into the tissue of the grapes, and are easily washed off with water. Therefore, do not fear for their health when eating processed berries.

Let's start with the benefits that are in the list a lot. No wonder gardeners in the processing of grapes have resorted to the help of vitriol from ancient times to the present day, despite the presence of more modern products on the market today. The main difference from them is low price and availability. Iron or copper sulphate can be purchased at most hardware stores without serious loss for your budget.

As mentioned above, these substances are not too toxic compared with many other drugs and do not cause harm to animal organisms. However, copper is inferior in this respect to iron, since it tends to accumulate in the soil. In general, both types of vitriol are quite environmentally friendly. If used correctly, you can not be afraid of unpleasant side effects.

These tools can boast good disinfecting properties, making it easy to cope with pathogens of various diseases. For example, a disease such as mildew is better to prevent in advance. It will be much more difficult to cure it.

And also from the effects of copper and iron sulfate die eggs and insect larvae, mosses, fungi and lichens.

Grape leaves under the action of these substances more actively produce chlorophyll, enhancing its photosynthesis. In this case, the stems become more elastic, which helps to avoid damage. And when added to the soil, vitriol fill it with iron, which is necessary for the proper development of plants.

We now turn to the minuses. Their list is noticeably shorter.

• Firstly, iron and copper sulfate are not as good in the treatment of diseases as in their prevention.
• Secondly, the effect of substances acts for about two weeks, which is why spraying needs to be done regularly.
• Thirdly, using vitriol, you must strictly follow the instructions.

Errors in the application may entail not the most pleasant, and maybe even fatal consequences:

• the increased concentration of these substances becomes toxic for living organisms, especially when it comes to copper sulphate;
• should not be used with other drugs, so that they do not enter into a chemical reaction;
• Spraying on plants can cause burns.

How to avoid negative effects, read further in our article.

Spring weather in the central part of Russia is very unstable. Colds can return at any time. Sensing the first heat, the vineyards wake up after hibernation and often suffer from frost.

It is possible to fence them from damage by early treatment with iron sulfate. If you live in the middle zone of our country, then it is better to do it in the second half of March. In the southern regions - at the end of February. Watch the air temperature, which should not be lower than + 5 ° С.

Iron sulfate covers the grapevine film with a film, because of which the buds on them swell, but can not dissolve. The film lasts about two weeks. Usually this time is enough for the plant to survive temperature drops. And also it will help get rid of the overwintering species of fungus.

The second period for the "backup" processing of grapes begins immediately before flowering. Waiting for certain air temperatures are no longer worth it. You need to have time to spray the plant before the leaves grow. The main purpose of the second spraying is to moisten all the pedicels from which the clusters should develop.

The second treatment will kill hungry insects awakening from hibernation.

You can also highlight the intermediate period, which is popularly called spraying "on the fifth sheet." As it is easy to guess, it comes when the fifth leaf grows on the grape branches. They are enough to determine the lack of iron. Due to lack of chlorophyll, the leaves lose their green color. At the same time, new shoots grow too slowly, and the vine is thin and short.

The concentration of the solution and the dosage of vitriol on the amount of water depend on many factors. The main ones are:

• season and period of processing;
• processing target;
• age and size of the vineyard.

In this case, we are talking about spring spraying. We have already described the periods and goals of processing in the spring. Now tell more about the correct preparation of the drug.

For the first spraying after wintering, use 0.5% ferrous sulfate solution. Dilute no more than 50 grams of dry vitriol per 10 liters of water. The proportions of the prepared solution also depend on the number of vines. Use such a composition for routine prophylactic treatment.

One of the main goals of spring spraying is pest control. Timely processing will reduce their number by half. Using other drugs will help completely get rid of insects. But remember that you should not use them simultaneously, so as not to cause a chemical reaction.

Before you enter the pest battle, you need to figure out exactly what to fight. For each misfortune its own solution concentration is used. For example:

• 3 percent - to get rid of moss and lichen;
• 5 percent - to fight diseases like mildew and oidium;
• 0.5 or 1 percent - for the destruction of insects.

If the source of the threat is not established, use universal concentration for spring processing. Namely: from 50 to 100 grams of vitriol on a bucket of water.

To protect the grapes from diseases, you can treat it Bordeaux liquid mixed with copper sulfate. The solution can be made strong (300 grams of copper sulphate and 400 grams of hydrated lime per bucket of water) or weak (100 grams of vitriol and 100 grams of lime per bucket of water).

Use non-metallic container for cooking. Suitable plastic, glass and wooden containers. The vitriol needs to be diluted in a small amount of hot water. After add cold. Slowly pour the resulting substance into the lime mortar, and in no case do the opposite.

Then the liquid should infuse for about 4 hours. At the same time from time to time it must be stirred so that lime and copper did not settle. And do not forget to filter the solution before use.

But also after cooking you can not add water or other drugs. But experienced gardeners add sugar or soap (about 100 grams per 100 liters) to the Bordeaux liquid, which helps the substance to stay on the leaves and stems. By the way, it is better to use the prepared remedy all at once, because with time it will become unusable.

Bordeaux liquid can be prepared only with the use of copper sulphate, as the mixture of lime and iron is practically not absorbed by plants.

For the treatment of chlorosis, use a solution of 50 grams of iron sulphate per 10 liters of water. For further prophylaxis, reduce the amount to 10 grams. If you add citric acid in this solution (about two spoons), you get a more effective tool.

For disinfection and quick healing of wounds, a solution whose concentration does not exceed 1%, that is, 10 grams of vitriol per liter of water, is suitable.

Most often in vitriol there are various impurities that form a precipitate when mixed with water. Do not worry, it will not bring harm to the grapes, but the sprayer nozzle may clog, which will stop the work. To prevent this, let the solution settle.

Before proceeding directly to the spraying, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work.

First you need to deal with the material that was used as a shelter for the winter. Consumables of organic origin such as dry foliage, brushwood, or coniferous paws should be burned immediately. Slate, oilcloth, cloth and boards should be treated with the same solution that you are going to use for grapes.

Now go to the plant itself. First cut it for sanitary purposes. Then remove dead plant residues from the ground because various insects, fungi and bacteria could accumulate in them in the winter. And at the end of the process, disinfect the earth with a fungicide.

Then you can start the first spring processing. For effective spraying requires a spray. At the same time, its pump must have sufficient power so that in the process of operation no leakage occurs. Vines and the soil under them are treated strictly from the bottom up.

If you need to get rid of moss or lichen (with subsequent treatments), spray only the parts of the vineyard where they are located (usually at the bottom). After a few hours you need to remove harmful growths manually.

To destroy harmful insects, spray not only the bushes of grapes, but also the ground around them.

Anything can harm a vineyard. Children play, birds, wind or heavy clusters. If you notice wounds on the vines, it is not necessary to spray the whole bush. It is enough to apply the solution to the damaged area. You can do this with a soft brush. The resulting protective film will protect the grapes from penetrating inside insects, fungus and bacteria, as well as accelerate recovery. But remember that the solution is easily washed off with water. Therefore, after the rain, the treatment should be repeated.

For the treatment of chlorosis, grape leaves should be sprayed every 3-4 days and further for prevention, but with a decrease in the concentration of the solution.

Winegrowers spend spraying on dry, windless days in the evening. Otherwise, the sun's rays can leave burns on the leaves of the vine. Either you need to wait for cloudy weather, but if it rains, the treatment will not give a positive effect. Repeated spraying should be avoided so that the content of sulfuric acid copper does not increase in the soil.

In addition to the adult grapes, vitriol can be treated with cuttings before planting. Thanks to this they will be able to settle down better in the soil. Simply dip the top of the cutting (which should be above the ground) in a 1 percent solution. As a result, the budding process will slow down, and in the meantime, the roots will grow in the ground, which are necessary for feeding the cutting.

Iron and copper sulfate are included in the group of "low-hazard" substances. When working with them, you must follow basic safety measures to avoid harm to their own health.

Copper sulfate is more toxic. Once in the body, it irritates the mucous membranes, causes coughing and nosebleeds.

If you already had to work with chemicals, then you, most likely, already know how to protect yourself during the spraying.

Caution must be taken at the stage of preparation of the drug. It is better to use plastic or glass containers for this. It is possible and metal, but this option is undesirable. Do not forget to carefully wash the container after preparation.

The primary safety measure when spraying is the right clothes.

• Choose clothes with long sleeves, and in no case do not wear shorts. Your skin should be completely closed. After completion of the work, send all this to the laundry.
• Wear rubber gloves. Best of all disposable, so that later they can be just thrown away.
• Do not forget about the hat.
• Eyes must be protected from splashes. Wear safety goggles or at least ordinary ones.
• Cover the lower half of the face with a gauze bandage. But for better protection it is worth using an anti-aerosol respirator.
• Wear shoes that are easy to wash. For example, rubber boots.

If the solution still gets on the skin, do not panic. Just wash it off with water. With proper preparation, the substance does not cause serious damage to the skin.

A much greater danger is the solution to the eyes. Therefore, they need to be well protected before cooking and spraying. The vitriol has a certain level of acidity, even if it is low. If the substance splashes into your eyes, immediately rinse them with water, or better with a solution of baking soda.

It is unlikely, but the drug can get into the stomach. For example, small children will take a couple of sips if you don’t follow them.In this case, the victim must drink at least one and a half liters of water and induce vomiting. If a large amount of a substance is ingested, you need to drink a glass of water with a pinch of salt dissolved in it, and then immediately consult a doctor. For safety reasons, keep these preparations out of the reach of children.

In conclusion, it should be said that both iron and copper sulphates remain in demand and effective drugs among wine growers from all over the world. At the same time vitriol is a traditional tool in the arsenal of all gardeners. Preparations are excellent for processing flower crops and fruit trees, removing unpleasant odors from compost pits, and disinfecting the premises for storing crops. Proper use of substances in gardening can save them from a variety of misfortunes, without requiring you to spend a lot of effort and money.

For information on how to process grapes in spring copper sulphate, see the following video.