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Tomatoes belong to crops that are susceptible to fungal diseases. The most effective method of dealing with such lesions is Bordeaux fluid. It can be made at home with the obligatory adherence to technology. When processed tomato Bordeaux liquid, it is important to adhere to safety measures.
When the solution is applied
Bordeaux liquid is used to combat late blight, streak, brown spot. These diseases are spread by a fungus that infects tomato leaves, stems, root system, ripening fruits.
Phytophthora has the following manifestations:
- the appearance of weeping spots on the foliage, which become darker over time;
- white bloom is observed on the other side of the leaf;
- subsequently the leaves of the tomatoes dry out;
- the fruits acquire a brown hue and become unusable.
With late blight, you need to immediately take action on the use of Bordeaux liquid, since the disease quickly affects other seedlings.
Streak is another dangerous disease that can affect the entire plant. He is diagnosed for a number of signs:
- the presence of brick-colored stains on tomatoes;
- the plant develops more slowly and withers;
- rot and yellow spots appear on the fruits.
Tomatoes growing in a greenhouse are susceptible to brown spot. The disease is determined by the following symptoms:
- light-colored spots appear on the top of the seedling, which grow and turn brown;
- brown spots are formed on the lower part of the plant.
Apply Bordeaux liquid by spraying tomatoes. Due to the high toxicity of the resulting substance, it is necessary to follow the procedure for its preparation and further use.
The solution helps in the prevention of viral diseases of tomatoes. At the same time, the established proportions and manufacturing technology are observed.
Calculation of components
During the preparation of the solution, the proportions must be strictly observed. Most often, a mixture with a concentration of Bordeaux liquid of 0.75% and 1% is used.
The sequence of actions for obtaining a solution of any type is identical. Only the proportions of the constituent substances change.
0.75% solution of the drug includes:
- 10 liters of water;
- 0.075 kg of copper sulfate;
- 0.1 kg of quicklime (CaO).
For a 1% solution you will need:
- 10 liters of water;
- 0.1 kg of copper sulfate;
- 0.15 kg of quicklime (CaO).
Where to find components
Copper sulfate and quicklime can be purchased at specialist gardening stores. Substances are supplied packed in bags. It is best to buy the required volume immediately, which can be used immediately to prepare Bordeaux liquid.
Quicklime has a crystalline structure. It is obtained after firing limestone rocks. Lime requires caution when working, because it has a second safety class.
Copper sulfate comes in the form of bright blue crystals. If the shelf life of the powder has exceeded two years, then the solution will not have the required effect.Store it in a cool, dry place protected from the sun.
What is needed for the solution
To obtain a solution of Bordeaux liquid, you need to prepare in advance:
- two containers (5 and 10 liters);
- sieve;
- filtering gauze;
- a nail or any other metal object;
- kitchen scales, if the components are purchased in large quantities;
- a stick made of wood for mixing the solution.
Containers made of glass, wood, plastic are used for mixing the components. The use of enameled dishes without chips is allowed.
Cooking procedure
How to dilute Bordeaux liquid describes the following procedure:
- Pour 1 liter of hot water into a five-liter bucket.
- Dissolve copper sulfate in water in the required amount.
- Stir the mixture thoroughly with a stick, add cold water to fill the bucket completely.
- A 10 liter bucket is filled with 2 liters of cold water, after which quicklime is added.
- To extinguish the lime, mix the mixture well. Due to the interaction of CaO and water, the so-called milk of lime is formed.
- Cold water is poured into the second bucket to half the volume.
- Copper sulfate is carefully poured from the first bucket into a container with milk of lime.
- The quality of the solution is checked. The result is a turquoise solution without flakes and impurities.
- The solution is filtered through cheesecloth folded in several layers. A fine sieve is suitable for these purposes.
- Diluted Bordeaux liquid can be used to process tomatoes in a greenhouse.
The procedure for preparing the mixture must be followed in the specified sequence. If the technology is violated, the solution will not only lose its properties, but can also become dangerous for tomatoes.
In the course of work, it is strictly prohibited:
- add milk of lime to a mixture with vitriol, then the resulting product will be ineffective;
- mix the components dry, and then add water;
- use substances of different temperatures (they must be equally cold).
Quality checking
If the proportions and technology are correctly observed, Bordeaux liquid has the following characteristics:
- suspension-like consistency;
- bright blue color;
- reaction to the addition of alkali.
If the agent has high acidity, then the leaves of the plants will be damaged. As a result, a yellow mesh appears on the tomatoes, or the fruits crack. If the alkaline reaction is pronounced, then the drug will not stay on the green parts of the plants.
The presence of sediment in the solution, which is formed with an excess of lime, is allowed. This usually happens when the proportions are out of proportion. The precipitation is not reflected on the properties of Bordeaux liquid, and such a solution is completely ready for use.
You can check the acidity of the solution in the following ways:
- litmus test (should not change color);
- phenolphthalein paper (becomes crimson).
If a red copper coating does not appear on the item, then everything is cooked correctly. Then we additionally dilute the solution with milk of lime.
Application procedure
Bordeaux liquid evenly sprinkle tomatoes in the greenhouse... For this, it is recommended to choose a special sprayer with a small tip.
When choosing the time for work, two nuances are taken into account:
- the procedure is not carried out if there are plants near the processing site that are ready to harvest in the next 2-3 weeks;
- if there are 2 weeks left before the tomatoes ripen, the solution is prohibited;
- processing is delayed during flowering and fruit formation of the plant.
Parts of the plant on which signs of the disease have appeared are treated with Bordeaux liquid. The solution should evenly cover the leaves and stems of the tomatoes.
During the work, care must be taken that the solution does not get on the skin. In the future, before eating tomatoes, they must be thoroughly washed.
The processing intensity is as follows:
- the total number of procedures per season should not exceed four;
- for processing tomatoes, a 1% agent or a solution with a weaker concentration is used;
- the procedure is carried out three times with a break of up to 10 days;
- when a disease appears on tomato seedlings, they are processed 10-14 days before planting in a greenhouse or soil.
Main advantages
The use of a Bordeaux liquid solution has a number of undoubted advantages:
- high efficiency;
- suitable for combating a wide range of tomato diseases;
- duration of action up to 30 days;
- the quality of processing is monitored (after the solution enters the plant, its parts acquire a blue tint);
- the solution remains on the leaves of tomatoes even after watering and rains;
- availability in gardening stores;
- safe for insects pollinating tomatoes.
Main disadvantages
When using a solution, certain nuances must be taken into account:
- the need to comply with the proportions of substances and spraying technology;
- the likelihood of tomato fruits falling off after processing remains;
- with repeated spraying, the earth accumulates copper, which negatively affects the growth of tomatoes;
- in case of an overdose, tomato leaves are damaged, fruits crack, the development of new shoots slows down.
Security measures
To prevent chemicals from harming the soil and the health of the gardener, precautions must be taken:
- when interacting with the mixture, protective equipment is used (rubber gloves, respirators, glasses, etc.);
- when using the solution, it is forbidden to smoke, eat or drink;
- processing of tomatoes with Bordeaux liquid is not performed immediately before picking tomatoes;
- after work, you need to thoroughly wash your hands and face;
- children and animals should not be present during the procedure.
When such symptoms appear, an ambulance team should be called. If the substance has entered the body through the respiratory tract, then diuretics and antipyretic drugs are taken.
If the solution comes in contact with the skin, then the affected area is thoroughly washed with water. In cases of penetration of poison into the body with food, the stomach is washed and activated charcoal is taken.
Conclusion
Bordeaux liquid is an effective means of combating fungal infections of tomatoes. Its preparation takes place strictly according to the recipe. The solution is suitable for greenhouse and outdoor use. The resulting mixture has a toxic effect, therefore, it is imperative that precautions are taken. The solution not only allows you to cope with diseases of tomatoes, but also serves as a means of preventing them.
