Spring processing of grapes with copper and iron sulphate

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

Iron vitriol (ferrous sulfate heptahydrate) is an excellent tool for combating various kinds of pests. Not only insects die from it, but also mosses with lichens. However, this is only one item on the list of benefits.

This preparation is also suitable for plant disease control 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 vitriol is a chemical substance from the category of crystalline hydrates. One molecule of ferrous sulfate is firmly bound to seven molecules of H2O, 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 iron sulfate is oxidized by oxygen over time.

Copper sulfate (copper sulfate pentahydrate) is in many ways similar to its counterpart in composition and properties. It also belongs to crystalline hydrates. One molecule of divalent copper sulfate is firmly bound to five molecules of H2O, which are also easily split off when dissolved in water, after which it turns into copper sulfate.

Unlike iron crystals, copper sulphate has a blue color. This compound is more stable and can absorb moisture from the air. But when weathered, it also loses its original pleasant appearance. In water, copper sulfate dissolves better when heated.

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

The toxicity of copper sulphate is slightly higher than that of iron sulfate. But if the permissible concentration is observed, it does not pose a threat to the human body. Both types work superficially, without penetrating into the tissues of the grapes, and are easily washed off with water. Therefore, you should not be afraid for your health when eating processed berries.

Let's start with the benefits, of which there are many on the list. It is not without reason that gardeners, when processing grapes, resort to the help of vitriol from ancient times to the present day, despite the availability of more modern preparations on the market today. The main difference from them is low price and availability.Iron or copper sulfate can be purchased at most hardware stores without serious losses to your budget.

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

These products boast good disinfectant properties, making it easy to cope with pathogens of various diseases. For example, a disease such as mildew is best prevented in advance. It will be much more difficult to cure him.

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

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

Now let's move on to the cons. Their list is noticeably shorter.

• First, iron and copper sulphates are not as good at treating diseases as they are at preventing them.
• Secondly, the effect of the substances lasts about two weeks, which is why spraying should be done regularly.
• Thirdly, using vitriol, you must strictly follow the instructions.

Mistakes in application can lead to not the most pleasant, and maybe even fatal consequences:

• an increased concentration of these substances becomes toxic to living organisms, especially when it comes to copper sulphate;
• do not use together with other drugs so that they do not enter into a chemical reaction;
• due to improper spraying, burns may appear on plants.

To learn how to avoid negative effects, read further in our article.

Spring weather in the central part of Russia is very unstable. The cold can return at any moment. Feeling the first warmth, the vineyards wake up after hibernation and often suffer from frost.

You can protect them from damage by early treatment with iron sulphate. If you live in the middle zone of our country, then it is better to do this in the second half of March. In the southern regions - already at the end of February. Keep an eye on the air temperature, which should not be lower than + 5 ° С.

Iron vitriol covers the vine with a film, which causes the buds to swell on them, but cannot bloom. The film lasts about two weeks. Usually this time is enough for the plant to survive temperature changes. And also it will help get rid of wintering types of fungus.

The second period for the "reserve" processing of grapes occurs immediately before flowering. It is no longer worth waiting for certain air temperatures. 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 the hungry insects awakened from hibernation.

You can also highlight the intermediate period, which is popularly called spraying "on the fifth sheet." As you might guess, it comes when the fifth leaf grows on the grape branches. They are enough to determine the lack of iron. Due to the 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 per amount of water depend on many factors. The main ones are:

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

In this case, we are talking about spring spraying. The periods and goals of processing in the spring have already been described above. Now let's talk more about the correct preparation of the drug.

For the first spraying after wintering, it is worth using a 0.5% solution of ferrous sulfate. 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 this composition for routine preventive treatment.

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

Before you enter the battle with pests, you should find out what exactly you have to fight. For each misfortune, its own concentration of the solution is used. For example:

• 3 percent - to get rid of moss and lichens;
• 5 percent - to fight diseases like mildew and oidium;
• 0.5 or 1 percent - to kill insects.

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

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

Use a non-metal container for cooking. Suitable plastic, glass and wooden containers. Vitriol must be diluted in a small amount of hot water. Then add cold. Slowly pour the resulting substance into the lime mortar, and in no case do the opposite.

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

But also after cooking, you can not add water or other preparations to it. But experienced gardeners mix sugar or soap (about 100 grams per 100 liters) into the Bordeaux liquid, which help the substance stick better to the leaves and stems. By the way, it is better to use the prepared remedy all at once, because over time it becomes unusable.

Bordeaux liquid can only be prepared using copper sulfate, since 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 sulfate per 10 liters of water. For further prevention, reduce the amount of the substance to 10 grams.If you add citric acid to this solution (about two tablespoons), you get a more effective remedy.

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

Most often, vitriol contains various impurities that form a precipitate when mixed with water. Don't worry, it won't harm the grapes, but the sprayer nozzle may become clogged, which will stall your work. To prevent this from happening, let the solution settle.

Before proceeding directly to 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 like dry leaves, brushwood or coniferous paws should be burned immediately. Slate, oilcloths, fabrics and boards should be treated with the same solution that you are going to use for grapes.

Now let's move on to the plant itself. First of all, cut it for sanitary purposes. Then remove dead plant debris from the ground, because various insects, fungi and bacteria could accumulate in them in winter. And in the end, disinfect the earth with a fungicide.

Then you can proceed to the first spring processing. For effective spraying, a spray gun is needed. At the same time, its pump must have sufficient power so that no leaks occur during operation. Grape vines and the soil under them are cultivated strictly from the bottom up.

If it is necessary to get rid of moss or lichen (in subsequent treatments), spray only the parts of the vineyard where they are located (usually in the lower part). After a few hours, you need to remove harmful growths manually.

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

Anything can harm grape bushes. Playing children, birds, wind or heavy bunches. If you notice wounds on the vines, it is not necessary to spray the entire bush. It is enough to apply the solution to the damaged area. This can be done with a soft brush. The resulting protective film will protect the grapes from the penetration of insects, fungus and bacteria, and will also speed up recovery. But remember that the solution is easily washed off with water. Therefore, after rain, the treatment should be repeated.

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

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

In addition to adult grapes, cuttings can be treated with iron sulfate before planting. Thanks to this, they can better take root in the soil. Simply dip the top of the cutting (which should be above the ground) into the 1% solution.As a result, the process of opening the kidneys will slow down, and in the meantime, the roots necessary to feed the cuttings will sprout in the ground.

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

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

If you have worked with chemicals before, then you probably already know how to protect yourself while spraying.

Care must be taken already at the stage of preparation of the drug. For this, it is better to use plastic or glass containers. It is possible and metal, but this option is undesirable. Remember to thoroughly wash the container after cooking.

The first safety measure when spraying is the right clothing.

• Choose clothes with long sleeves and never wear shorts. Your skin should be completely covered. After completing the work, send it all to the laundry.
• Be sure to wear rubber gloves on your hands. Best of all, disposable, so you can just throw them away later.
• Don't forget your headwear.
• Eyes must be protected from splashes. Put on safety goggles or at least regular ones.
• Cover the lower half of the face with a gauze bandage. But for better protection, you should use an anti-aerosol respirator.
• Wear shoes that are easy to clean on your feet. For example, rubber boots.

If the solution does get on the skin, do not panic. Just wash the area with water. When properly prepared, the substance does not cause serious damage to the skin.

The solution is much more dangerous for the eyes. Therefore, they must be well protected before cooking and spraying. Vitriols have a certain level of acidity, albeit low. If splashes of the substance get into your eyes, immediately rinse them with water, and preferably with a solution with baking soda.

Unlikely, but the drug can get into the stomach. For example, small children will take a couple of sips if you do not 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 has entered the body, 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 drugs out of the reach of children.

In conclusion, it should be said that both iron and copper sulfate remain in demand and effective drugs among winegrowers around the world. At the same time, vitriol is a traditional tool in the arsenal of all gardeners. The preparations are perfect for treating flower crops and fruit trees, removing unpleasant odors from compost pits, and disinfecting a crop storage room. The correct use of a substance 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 with copper sulphate in spring, see the following video.