Content
Scab is a dangerous disease that affects berry and fruit bushes. Under certain conditions, gooseberries also suffer from it. To save the bush, it is necessary to start processing it in time. Measures to combat scab on gooseberries will help get rid of the disease and preserve the harvest.
What is “scab” on gooseberries?
Scab, like any disease, appears under the influence of a number of factors. There are signs by which a lesion is diagnosed. The sooner the disease is detected, the easier it is to cope with it.
Symptoms and causes of infection
Scab is spread by microscopic fungi and bacteria. The disease is diagnosed not only on gooseberries, but also on apples, pears, potatoes, and beets. The pathogens differ for each plant species. However, the signs of damage are similar for all crops.
Most often, scab appears in the middle zone in a temperate climate. The development of the disease is favored by cold and wet weather. The causative agent of the disease overwinters on fallen fruits and leaves.In spring, spores germinate into the leaf blade, but do not penetrate deeply. The tops of young shoots are most susceptible to damage.
After 2 - 3 weeks, secondary infection is observed. It spreads at an air temperature of +20 °C. During this period, light olive spots appear on the leaves, which gradually become brown and crack.
General signs of scab on gooseberries:
- brown spots on leaves, ovaries and shoots;
- green and brown growths on fruits;
- the bush sheds its leaves prematurely;
- peeling on leaves and berries;
- fruit deformation.
Photo of scab on gooseberries:
The appearance of scab on gooseberries is promoted by:
- High soil moisture. Germination of fungal spores occurs when exposed to moisture. In the spring they spread after the snow melts, in the summer - due to rain, morning dew and fog.
- Planting density. Bushes that grow too close to each other are at risk. Scab also develops in plants that have not been pruned. When thickened, favorable conditions are created for the disease - high humidity and lack of sun.
- Weak plant immunity. Certain gooseberry varieties are more susceptible to the disease.
How dangerous is the disease?
All above-ground parts of the gooseberry suffer from scab: young shoots, leaves and berries. As a result, the fruits become smaller and deformed. They contain less vitamins and other useful substances, lose their taste and become unsuitable for consumption. If the crop is seriously damaged, the harvest can be completely lost.
How can you spray gooseberries against scab?
To combat scab, chemicals or folk remedies are used. The choice of a specific method depends on the degree of damage, the age of the bush and the time of year.
How to fight scab on gooseberries using fungicides
The most reliable way to get rid of harmful fungi is to use chemicals. The most effective products are those containing copper or biological components. They are diluted with water to obtain a working solution. The bush is sprayed in cloudy weather or in the evening, when there is no direct sunlight. Treatments are carried out no later than 2 weeks before harvesting.
When using fungicidal preparations, precautions must be taken. To do this, avoid their contact with the skin and mucous membranes. Children and animals are also removed from the treatment site. It is recommended to wear personal protective equipment for work.
Effective preparations for scab on gooseberries:
- Bordeaux liquid. A universal option for treating gooseberries against fungal diseases. The product is prepared from copper sulfate and lime. The working solution is valid for 30 days.
- Fitosporin-M. A biological preparation that suppresses the growth of fungus. In addition, it additionally stimulates the gooseberry’s immunity and accelerates its growth. The treatment is carried out in several stages: before and after flowering, at the beginning of fruit formation.
- Score. A systemic fungicide that protects the garden from various lesions. The drug Skor is used at many stages of the growing season of a bush: when the first buds appear, flowering, and fruit growth. The product has no phytotoxicity at all. Treatments are carried out at intervals of 2 weeks.
- Raek. A systemic drug that penetrates plant tissue and destroys harmful fungi. Has a long-lasting effect and prevents secondary infection. The first spraying is carried out when the gooseberries are flowering and repeated after 15 days.
How to get rid of scab on gooseberries using folk methods
The main advantage of traditional methods is their environmental friendliness and safety for plants and humans. Such tools have no restrictions on their use. All necessary components are simple and commercially available. Based on them, a solution is prepared with which the bush is sprayed.
Folk remedies against scab on gooseberries:
- Mustard infusion. Add 100 g of powder to 10 liters of water.
- Brine. 1 kg of salt is dissolved in a large bucket of water. At the same time, do not allow the product to get into the soil, as this will worsen its properties.
- Wood ash infusion. Add 200 g of ash to 5 liters of water. The components are mixed and infused for 24 hours. They also practice dusting gooseberries with ash.
- Horsetail infusion. To prepare the product, collect fresh horsetail and fill the container 1/3 with it. Then pour water and leave the product for 3 days in a warm place. The liquid is filtered before use.
Prevention measures
To avoid scab on gooseberries, it is necessary to follow agricultural practices. With comprehensive care, bushes rarely suffer from fungal diseases. This includes rationing watering and fertilizing. At the same time, they try to avoid excess moisture in the soil. Be sure to loosen the soil so that water does not accumulate in it. Good results are obtained by mulching the soil with straw or peat.
To feed the bush in summer and autumn, potassium and phosphorus compounds are chosen.Nitrogen preparations are used only in spring, as they promote shoot growth. Complex fertilizing increases plant immunity. Every year the bush is inspected and dry, old, broken branches are cut off.
As an additional prevention of scab on gooseberries, it is recommended:
- use varieties resistant to diseases: Severyanin, Harlequin, Chernomor, Plum, etc.;
- choose healthy seedlings;
- maintain a distance between bushes of 1 m;
- destroy fallen leaves in which fungal spores overwinter;
- dig or loosen the soil in the fall.
The most reliable way to prevent gooseberry diseases is to carry out preventive treatments. They begin in early spring after the snow melts. To combat diseases on gooseberries in the spring, use a urea solution at a concentration of 5%. In the future, folk or chemical preparations are used. Spraying the crop with fungicides is carried out no more than once every 2 weeks.
Conclusion
Measures to combat scab on gooseberries involve the use of special preparations. They are selected taking into account the stage of vegetation and the condition of the bush. Preventive treatments and adherence to agricultural practices will help prevent the development of the disease in the future.
