Content
- 1 Description of the drug
- 2 Composition and principle of action
- 3 Types of Fitosporin
- 4 Advantages and disadvantages of the drug
- 5 Is it possible to treat potatoes with Fitosporin for storage?
- 6 Is it possible to spray potatoes with Fitosporin during ripening?
- 7 How to treat potatoes with Fitosporin
- 8 Consumption rates
- 9 Compatibility with other drugs
- 10 Safety precautions
- 11 Conclusion
- 12 Reviews on the use of Fitosporin for potatoes
Proper preparation of potato tubers for planting is the key to a good harvest at the end of the season. Many gardeners do not limit themselves to their germination, additionally using agrochemicals to protect against diseases and pests that are most dangerous for a given variety or hybrid, and to stimulate plant development. A popular method is to treat potatoes before planting with Fitosporin: this drug is valued for its environmental safety, complex effect and ease of use.
Description of the drug
Fitosporin (Fitosporin-M) is a systemic domestic fungicide of biological origin. Produced by the organization NVP "BashInkom" in different types and volumes.
The biofungicide is suitable for treating any garden crops, including potatoes, throughout the entire active growing season
The drug “works” in a wide temperature range – from -40 to 50 °C.The use of Fitosporin provides a complex effect – immunostimulating and “anti-stress”. The drug protects potatoes from any negative external influences, including the vagaries of the weather, the nuances of the local climate, and the consequences of the use of other agrochemicals.
It also reduces the risk of potato infection at any stage of development - from preparation for planting to storage of tubers. The effectiveness against pathogenic microflora, depending on the disease, varies between 65-95%. Spraying potatoes with Fitosporin is effective for protection against:
- late blight;
- phomosa;
- Alternaria;
- fusarium;
- any types of rot;
- scab;
- rhizoctoniasis;
- septoria;
- tracheomycosis;
- rust;
- true and downy mildew;
- bacterial cancer;
- bacterial spotting.
Pre-planting treatment of potato tubers with Fitosporin activates the process of plant development and formation of the root system. This has a positive effect on the volume of the harvest and its quality.
Composition and principle of action
Fitosporin is a fungicide of completely biological origin. Spores of soil bacteria Bacillus Subtilis (better known as “bacillus hay”), strain 26D, are responsible for protecting potatoes from diseases. For accelerating development and increasing productivity - GUMI organic fertilizer based on humate, “enriched” with a whole complex of microelements (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, bromine, selenium, copper, and so on).
The content of soil bacteria (spores and “living” cells) varies depending on the form of release of the drug:
- minimum 100 million in paste;
- at least 1 billionin suspension;
- maximum 2 billion in powder.
Phytosporin is a systemic fungicide that acts at the cellular level. Getting onto potato tubers during pre-planting treatment and onto the aboveground part of the plants during spraying, in the garden bed it is almost instantly “absorbed” inside and spreads through the vascular system, “impregnating” all tissues.
Next, the bacteria in Fitosporin are activated. This requires water, so it is used in the form of a solution to process potatoes and other crops. In the process of their life activity, oligopeptides with fungicide and antibiotic properties are synthesized.
Bacteria have a “depressing” effect on any pathogenic microflora trying to penetrate tissue from the outside, preventing its reproduction
GUMI “works” like any fertilizer based on humates. It not only activates the development of potatoes, but also improves the quality of the substrate, increasing its fertility. With regular use, Fitosporin can restore even very depleted or “poor” soil.
Types of Fitosporin
The release of Fitosporin in different forms allows you to choose the most convenient option for processing potatoes:
- The paste is very thick, almost black. Packaging in bags of 100 and 200 g.
- The powder is fine, grayish, and resembles ash. Packaging in bags of 10 and 30 g.
- The aqueous suspension is quite thick, gel-like, colorless. Packaging in bottles of 0.11, 0.2, 0.3 l and canisters of 10 l.
The process of preparing the working solution and treating tubers or plants is almost the same, regardless of the type of fungicide
Depending on the primary task of treating potatoes with Fitosporin, the gardener chooses a type of drug from one of three directions of action:
- Bioprotection from diseases. Available in powder and liquid form in different packaging. There is Fitosporin-Universal and specialized preparations for different crops (tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, cabbage, garden flowers) and seedlings.
- Disease prevention. It not only reduces the risk of infection, but also activates the process of plant development and increases their resistance to negative external influences. Available in paste form. There are options Fitosporin-Universal, Super-Universal and products specifically for tomatoes and potatoes.
- Harvest safety. It is used not only for processing tubers, but also for spraying potatoes shortly before harvesting. Available in powder and liquid form. The preparations Fitosporin AntiRot and Golden Autumn are suitable for any garden crops.
The types of fungicide for each crop differ slightly in the composition of macro- and microelements and their proportions
Advantages and disadvantages of the drug
Gardeners choose Fitosporin for processing potatoes, taking into account its undoubted advantages:
- safety for the environment, human health, pets;
- Possibility of use at any stage of active vegetation and during storage;
- variety of forms and volumes of production;
- affordable price;
- ease of use;
- complex effect;
- versatility;
- the inability of pathogens to develop resistance to the drug.
There are also some disadvantages:
- inability to “cure” potatoes if infection with a pathogen occurred before processing and the disease has reached a severe stage (here it is advisable to use potent chemicals instead of Fitosporin);
- unsuitable for use on clear days.
Fitosporin is not without certain disadvantages, but it clearly has more advantages
Is it possible to treat potatoes with Fitosporin for storage?
To ensure the safety of the crop, there are special varieties of the drug. To properly treat potatoes for storage with Fitosporin, they are sprayed immediately before storing them in the basement or cellar, and then dried well. This allows you to protect the crop from fusarium, late blight, and various types of rot.
The drug can be used not only for spraying tubers, but also for treating their storage areas, containers, and means of transportation. It is also possible to treat seed potatoes with Fitosporin after greening before storing.
Is it possible to spray potatoes with Fitosporin during ripening?
Fitosporin is suitable for processing potatoes at any stage of active growing season, including during the process of tuber ripening. The experience of gardeners shows that spraying shortly before harvest increases its shelf life by 1.5-2 times and improves the taste of tubers.
How to treat potatoes with Fitosporin
Any treatment of potatoes with Fitosporin after emergence is carried out on cloudy days or in the evenings. Otherwise, the effectiveness of the drug drops sharply, and the bacteria in its composition die en masse. The working solution is always prepared in advance, 1.5-2 hours before the procedure.
Powder
You need to dilute 5 g of powder in 250 ml of water.Potatoes are processed by spraying liquid from a fine spray bottle as evenly as possible. Then they need to be dried well. If infection with pathogenic microflora is suspected or if symptoms of diseases were observed in plants in this bed last season, treatment with a solution of the same concentration is repeated when the tops reach 6-8 cm.
The drug dissolves quickly and without residue; stir the liquid vigorously enough for about a minute
Paste
The “master” solution of the paste is prepared by diluting it with water in a ratio of 1:2. Before use, its concentration is reduced according to the following proportions:
- for processing potato tubers before planting - 3 tbsp. l. for 200 ml of water;
- for spraying plants in the garden – 3 tsp. for 1 liter of water.
Important! Settled or otherwise softened water is suitable for preparing the solution. Chlorine and fluorine compounds are harmful to the bacteria contained in Fitosporin.
The “master” solution retains its consumer properties for 6-8 weeks
Liquid
The concentration of the Fitosporin suspension solution for treating potato tubers before planting and plants in the garden is the same - ten drops per 200 ml of water. In general, it does not change regardless of any work for which the liquid is intended.
Consumption rates
The approximate consumption rate of Fitosporin solution when spraying potato tubers is 200-250 ml per 10 kg of planting material. It is less common to dust them with powder - here the norm is about 30 g per 10 kg.
Liquid consumption when processing plants in the garden bed is 1-1.2 liters per 10 m²
Compatibility with other drugs
Fitosporin can be used in conjunction with most other agrochemicals:
- complex fertilizers;
- biostimulants and growth stimulants;
- insecticides (“narrowly targeted” and broad-spectrum);
- fungicides.
However, it must be taken into account that Fitosporin contains humates, so it is not advisable to use it in combination with other organic and organomineral fertilizers for potatoes. This can provoke “oversaturation” of the soil with nutrients, which is worse for the crop than their deficiency.
Safety precautions
According to the manufacturer’s description, Fitosporin for humans is an agrochemical of hazard class IV (low-hazard substances). It is non-phytotoxic and safe for pets and beneficial insects. The only exception is bees (hazard class III, a protective zone with a radius of 4-5 km is required).
However, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions for Fitosporin-M for its use for potatoes. We must not forget about basic precautions, especially if you are prone to allergies and hypersensitive skin.
It is necessary to wear thick rubber gloves when preparing the solution and spraying the tubers; it is also advisable to have goggles and a respirator
If, when processing potatoes, the Fitosporin solution gets on the skin, it is washed off with cool running water. In case of accidental ingestion, take activated charcoal, rinse the stomach, and induce vomiting.
Conclusion
Treatment of potatoes before planting with Fitosporin not only protects the tubers from the most typical pathogens for the crop, but also activates the process of their development and has a positive effect on the overall endurance of the plants. Such a complex effect naturally affects productivity. But you can count on “increased performance” only if you use the drug correctly, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Reviews on the use of Fitosporin for potatoes
