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Gardeners plant potatoes on their plots to get a bountiful harvest. Of course, the choice of variety is critical. But tubers that are not prepared in a special way are not able to please vegetable growers. It is no secret that potatoes are attacked by pests throughout the growing season; illnesses.
Gardeners have many secrets up their sleeve for preparing seed potatoes before planting. One way is to treat the tubers with copper sulfate.
Importance of pre-planting treatment
There are many methods for pre-sowing treatment of potato tubers, but their blind use will not produce results. Beginning vegetable growers should clearly understand the significance of the upcoming work, and not blindly follow the advice and recommendations:
- First of all, preparing the tubers allows you to get up to 9 strong sprouts, which is at least 15 potatoes in each bush.
- Secondly, processing tubers saves a third of the harvest from various potato diseases.
- Treatment with vitriol increases the vitality of the plant, stimulates the growth of stolons, therefore, potatoes will produce a harvest of healthy root crops.
Physical properties of vitriol
It is a poisonous blue powdery substance. The healing properties of vitriol for humans and plants have long been known. The powder contains many small crystals that are highly soluble in water. It turns blue.
Video about the properties of vitriol:
Features of vitriol treatment
Treatment of potato tubers before planting does not begin with copper sulfate. Rather, they complete all preparatory work.
How to prepare potatoes:
- Before treating the tubers with vitriol solution, the planting material is germinated. In a bright room exposed to sunlight, potatoes change color and become green. This is already protection for future plantings from pests.
- But it’s not yet time to start treating with copper sulfate. There are special products that stimulate plant growth. Treatment with vitriol is carried out directly in the containers where potatoes are germinated. You can make an extract from stove ash and spray the tubers.
- After 20-30 days, the sprouts become strong and green. There are 2-3 days left before landing. This is the time to treat potato tubers with vitriol solution.
Application of vitriol
During pre-planting preparation, it is important to treat seed potatoes against fungal diseases and late blight. Copper sulfate is the best remedy.
The solution cannot be stored; it must be used after preparation no later than ten hours before.
There are several options for using vitriol solution to process potatoes. Let's take a closer look at them.
First cast
You need to pour 10 liters of water into a bucket, add a teaspoon of powdered copper sulfate. The water will turn blue. Then the same amount of potassium permanganate and boric acid.
The sprouted tubers are carefully placed in a net so as not to damage the sprouts and dipped in the prepared solution for a quarter of an hour. While the tubers are raw, they are sprinkled with dry wood ash. It sticks well. This is a kind of additional fertilizer.
Second cast
For this solution you will need a matchbox of copper sulfate and one gram of potassium permanganate. They are dissolved in 10 liters of water. The solution can be sprayed onto the tubers before planting or placed in a bucket for a few minutes. You can also roll it in ash.
Third cast
The next composition, which is also used to treat seed material, is more saturated. It is used before preparing tubers for germination. The presence of a complex of fertilizers in combination with copper sulfate destroys possible potato diseases and provides strength for the full development of sprouts.
The solution consists of:
- 60 grams of superphosphate;
- 40 grams of urea;
- 5 grams of copper sulfate;
- 10 grams of boric acid;
- 1 gram of potassium permanganate;
- 10 liters of hot water.
Mix all ingredients. They dissolve well in hot water. When the solution has cooled, place seed potatoes in it and leave for 30 minutes. After the tubers have dried, they are laid out for germination.
Bordeaux mixture
Copper sulfate is used to prepare Bordeaux mixture. This solution can have different concentrations: it all depends on the application. To process seed potatoes, a one percent composition is required.
To prepare the product you will need 100 grams of vitriol, the same amount of quicklime per 10 grams of warm water. The solution is prepared in two containers, dividing the water in half. In one the lime is slaked, in the other the blue powder is dissolved.
This process is clearly visible in the photo.
Bordeaux mixture destroys:
- black scab;
- black leg;
- fungal diseases.
The Colorado potato beetle and wireworm do not like tubers treated with a solution.
Bordeaux mixture is a low-toxic drug that is safe for humans.
Many novice gardeners are interested in how to treat tubers before planting. Just before landing sprouted potatoes lay out in one layer on a large piece of cellophane and simply spray each tuber. Naturally, you need to wear protective clothing when working.
Burgundy liquid
Unfortunately, with the advent of new chemicals, Russians forgot about one effective remedy - Burgundy liquid. In addition to protection, it provides calcium to the treated plants.
To prepare, you will need ingredients available to every Russian:
- powdered vitriol - 100 grams;
- liquid soap – 40 grams. You can take laundry soap (an excellent antiseptic), grate it and add water;
- soda ash - 90 grams.
The ingredients are for 10 liters of water. We divide it in half.Vitriol is diluted in one vessel, soda and soap in another. The blue solution is poured into the soda solution. Treat seed potatoes with vitriol solution 7 days before planting.
Don't forget about safety
Copper sulfate belongs to the third hazard class due to toxicity.
Before use, you must carefully read the instructions. It should be noted that there is no resistance - the plants become accustomed to the drug.
When working with the drug, small children and animals must be removed from the premises. In addition, you should not eat or smoke.
Personal protective equipment is needed. Try to cover all parts of your body, wear glasses over your eyes, and use a protective mask. When working with copper sulfate solution, you should wear rubber gloves.
Under no circumstances should you dilute a vitriol solution in a container used for cooking. After completing the work, you should thoroughly wash your hands with laundry soap and rinse your face. Since the solution evaporates, be sure to rinse your mouth and nasal cavity. You cannot remain in work clothes.
In the room where pre-sowing processing of potatoes is carried out, the temperature should not exceed 25 degrees. If you work with copper sulfate outside, choose calm weather.
If you are poisoned...
If, despite precautions, vapor poisoning still occurs, you need to leave the room and breathe fresh air. The mouth is rinsed, hands and face are washed. In this case, the help of a doctor is necessary.
The solution is well absorbed into the skin, especially if the body is sweaty.If you accidentally splash liquid on your skin, you should immediately dilute the soap in warm water and thoroughly rinse the area of your body. It is not recommended to use a washcloth.
If a solution of copper sulfate is splashed into the eyes, they are washed with plenty of water to reduce the concentration of copper sulfate to a minimum.
If a person did not follow the rules for safe work with copper sulfate solution when processing potato tubers before planting, or worked without a protective mask, he may inhale toxic fumes. You should quickly go outside.
Cold milk and egg yolks are a good antidote. As an addition – activated carbon. First they drink milk or eggs, then coal. Requires drinking plenty of fluids.
When contacting a medical facility, the doctor will conduct a full examination and prescribe treatment. You cannot select medications on your own after copper sulfate poisoning!
