Content
Copper sulfate for grapes is a universal remedy that is used for feeding, preventing and treating crop diseases. Gardeners usually treat vines with copper sulfate in spring, summer and autumn; it is important to study the rules for using the drug so as not to harm the plant.
Copper sulfate will help maintain the health of grapes
Is it possible to treat grapes with copper sulfate?
Before using this or that chemical preparation, you should understand what it is and make sure that the composition is safe for the health of plants, in this case grapes.
Copper sulfate (CuSO4) is a compound of copper, which, like other trace elements, is a good nutrition for the plant, and a sulfuric acid salt that can fight fungal diseases of grapes - scab, mildew, podium, etc.
Copper sulfate is a water-soluble substance that is well absorbed by plants without penetrating into the fruit. This makes the drug safe for berry crops, including grapes.
All this suggests that it is possible to treat grapes with copper sulfate. The main thing is to do it correctly and maintain the proportions. After all, if a lack of copper can provoke a slowdown in vine growth and a decrease in yield, then its excess will not benefit the grapes either. At the same time, too high a concentration of a drug containing sulfuric acid can cause burns to young shoots and leaves, and in some cases, their death.
Copper sulfate is a simple and effective way to prevent diseases
Why are grapes treated with copper sulfate?
Treating grapes with a solution of copper sulfate is one of the most accessible ways to provide them with the necessary microelements and protect them from fungal infections. The timing of the activities and the dosage of the drug are determined depending on the task.
Top dressing
Feeding grapes with copper sulfate helps to compensate for the deficiency of copper, which is necessary to increase disease resistance and normalize the process of photosynthesis on depleted sandy and clay soils.
The main signs of a lack of an element in the soil:
- yellowing of leaves and appearance of white tips;
- slowing down the growth of young shoots;
- the appearance of symptoms of fungal diseases.
If one or more alarming signs appear, it is recommended to treat the grapes with copper sulfate on the leaves in the proportion specified in the instructions for the drug.
Processing cuttings and seedlings
According to experts, it is young chubuks, whose immunity still leaves much to be desired, that are most susceptible to fungal infections. Treatment of grape planting material with a 3% solution of copper sulfate helps facilitate the adaptation of cuttings and seedlings to a new location. The procedure reduces the likelihood of developing diseases characteristic of this culture.
To treat grape cuttings with copper sulfate, they are sprayed with a previously prepared solution or dipped in it for ten seconds.
Disinfection of wounds
Fresh cuts on the grapevine are an open gate for infection. Treating wounds with copper sulfate will help prevent the development of diseases. To prepare a disinfectant solution, 50 g of dry substance is diluted in 1 liter of warm water.
Treatment and prevention of diseases
Copper sulfate is an effective remedy for the prevention and treatment of fungal diseases of grapes.
Treating plants with this fungicide will help prevent the development of:
- white and brown spotting;
- powdery mildew;
- scab;
- all types of rot;
- mildew;
- mycosis, etc.
Treating grapes with copper sulfate also helps in pest control.
For preventive and therapeutic treatment of vines, a so-called “adhesive” is added to the copper sulfate solution, which will help the drug stay on the surface of the plants longer.For this purpose, you can use any synthetic detergent or skim milk.
After treatment, cuttings take root faster
How to dilute copper sulfate for processing grapes
An important rule for preparing copper sulfate for processing grapes is maintaining the proportions:
- 1 g of dry preparation per 1 liter of water is a highly concentrated solution that can only be used for autumn sanitation of old grapevines;
- for preventive treatment of grapes in the spring, make a less concentrated product at the rate of 1 g of chemical per 1 liter of water at room temperature;
- For feeding, use an aqueous solution of CuSO4, prepared at the rate of 5 g of dry powder per 10 liters of warm water.
In the process of treating fungal diseases, Bordeaux mixture is used, which contains CuSO4 and milk of lime. This preparation can be purchased at any garden store or prepared independently by combining an aqueous solution of copper sulfate with a lime solution filtered through a fine sieve.
Experts do not recommend preparing the solution in large volumes
When to treat grapes with copper sulfate
The processing time for grapes is determined depending on the purpose of the event:
- autumn – sanitation of the vine (destruction of pathogenic microorganisms and harmful insects);
- spring – repeated preventive treatment and fertilizing;
- summer – feeding and treatment of diseases.
In special cases, the timing of preventive and therapeutic measures may shift slightly.
Spraying grapes with copper sulfate in autumn
Sanitary treatment of grapes with copper sulfate in the fall is carried out before sheltering from the winter cold, that is, when the harvest is fully harvested and the leaves have fallen. This is approximately early to mid November.
Before spraying grapes with copper sulfate in the fall, the soil in the root zone of the bush is cleared of fallen leaves and damaged branches, and the vine itself is tied into bunches and sprayed with a previously prepared 5% solution of copper sulfate.
You need to start spraying grapes from the top tier, gradually moving to the lower branches. Lastly, the trunk and elements of the supporting structure are treated, which can also be carriers of infection.
For treating small bushes, a sprayer with a small liquid reservoir is suitable. If you have to process a large vineyard, it is better to use a backpack sprayer model with a large capacity tank.
To treat one bush you will need about 1.5 liters of solution
Treatment of grapes with copper sulfate in spring
Preventative spraying of grapes with copper sulfate in the spring must be carried out before the leaves appear. Ideally, do this when the thermometer needle stops at +5 °C. In the southern regions of the country this is approximately the end of February, the beginning of March, and in the middle zone - mid-late March.
During work:
- open the vine (remove the winter shelter);
- lift the shoots onto trellises and leave them to dry in the sun for a couple of days;
- when the shoots are properly dry, treat the grapes with a 1% CuSO solution prepared that day
The working solution cannot be stored, so it is recommended to prepare it as much as you plan to use per day.
If for some reason it was not possible to take care of disease prevention in early spring, you can spray the grapes before flowering. The procedure is performed according to the usual scheme, that is, from top to bottom.
Mid and late spring is a good time for root feeding. Copper deficiency can be determined by the color of the leaves, which is uncharacteristic for a given crop, as well as the weakness and thinness of the shoots.
When performing root feeding, it is advisable to exclude contact of the drug with the soil. For example, cover it in the root zone with film during the procedure.
Summer treatment of grapes with copper sulfate
In summer, it is not recommended to use copper sulfate unless absolutely necessary. The fact is that high air temperatures combined with exposure to hydrochloric acid can cause burns on the leaves.
The exceptions are:
- Treatment of diseases - in this case, use a 0.5% solution of copper sulfate. If there are obvious signs of lichen or podium, the concentration of the drug can be increased to 3%.
- Feeding grapes leaf by leaf (if spring root feeding was skipped). In this case, the vine and leaves are sprayed with a 0.2–0.3% solution of copper sulfate.
Spring treatment is carried out immediately after the snow melts.
Safety regulations
Considering that copper sulfate is a toxic substance, certain safety rules should be followed when interacting with it:
- Work in special clothing that protects the skin from contact with chemicals. Ideally, wear rubberized overalls or a waterproof raincoat over regular clothing, and high rubber shoes on your feet;
- Special rubberized gloves are put on your hands, and after work it is important to wash them with soap.
- Hair can be protected with a hat, and respiratory organs with a respirator or an individual mask. Special or regular sunglasses will help prevent droplets from getting into your eyes.
- You can work with copper sulfate solution only on a dry, windless day. Ideally, do this in the morning or evening.
- Contact with a high concentration of solution on the skin can cause a burn. In case of contact with a chemical, immediately rinse the affected area with running water and treat with a disinfectant. If there are signs of irritation or burns, it is recommended to consult a doctor.
Following these simple rules will make the grape processing procedure safe for health.
A respirator will protect the respiratory tract from chemicals.
Compatibility with other drugs
Copper sulfate cannot be combined in common solutions with organophosphorus insecticides. It is also incompatible with other drugs that tend to decompose in an alkaline environment.
Conclusion
Copper sulfate for grapes in the correct proportions will help protect the vine and berries from diseases throughout the growing season, without disrupting the processes of growth and fruiting. And the use of personal protective equipment will make grape processing safe for human health.
