Grapes are unpretentious crops that do not require careful maintenance. But in order to obtain a stable and healthy harvest, the basic rules of agricultural technology should be followed, including the autumn processing of bushes from diseases and pests in the fall. The implementation of these activities and the timing will be discussed in this article.
The importance of spraying grapes in the fall
Many insects, their larvae, as well as fungal spores easily tolerate subzero temperatures in plant debris, bark and even soil... To get healthy shoots in the spring, you need to carefully process the plants in the garden in the fall. This will help protect the grapes from diseases, survive the winter without problems. But before starting work, it is worth examining the vine in order to detect any signs of the disease. Identification of lesions makes it possible to carry out treatment with special drugs, to get the result before the onset of cold weather. Without proper attention, a weakened plant has little chance of surviving severe frosts.
The vineyard processed in the fall in the garden begins to develop actively in the spring, quickly enters the growing season, which makes a good foundation for the future harvest. If you do not spray and feed the eternal berries, the culture at best tolerates the cold and begins to wake up weaker from hibernation, spending more strength and energy on the recovery process. In the worst case, the untreated bush dies, which is facilitated by microorganisms that infect the grapes even before the onset of cold weather.
Larvae and spores can not always be found when inspecting the vines, therefore, the spraying procedure has become mandatory when performing preparatory measures for wintering.
How to process grapes for the winter
During the autumn events, gardeners use various preparations and available means that have a disinfecting effect. Each of them has a certain range of action, so before using it, you should familiarize yourself in detail with the product description and the recommended dosage.
Autumn processing with copper sulfate
The tool is used for carrying out medical and preventive work during the autumn preparation of vines for wintering. The effect is provided by the antifungal properties of copper sulfate.
For spraying, a suitable calm weather with no signs of precipitation is selected. After processing, it will take at least 4 hours for the active components to act. If it rains at this time, the drug will not have the proper effect.
The solution is prepared immediately before processing in the required amount. Residues are disposed of, the composition can no longer be used as a working solution due to the loss of its properties. Copper sulfate (50 gr.) Is diluted beforehand in a glass of water. This will help the fine crystals of the chemical dissolve as much as possible. After that, the mixture is sent to a 5 liter bucket of water. In this form, the product is poured into a spray bottle, from which you will then have to spray on the trees. Iron sulfate is also used.
Spraying the bushes is done from top to bottom with abundant watering of all surfaces of the vine, trellis and soil around the plant. The chemical is toxic, so protective clothing, gloves and goggles will be needed.
Bordeaux fluid application
The drug belongs to toxic agents, therefore, safety measures and dosage should be observed. Bordeaux mixture is effective for therapeutic and preventive measures. It is used in the fight against diseases such as gray rot, mildew, oidium, anthracnose.
The increased concentration of the solution has a depressing effect on the plant.
The mixture can be purchased ready-made or prepared by yourself using slaked lime and copper sulfate. For autumn processing, the components are bred in the following quantities:
- 100 g copper sulfate per 9 liters of water;
- 100-150 gr. lime per 1 liter of water.
Each substance is dissolved first in different containers, after which the contents of both containers are mixed in one container (the blue liquid is added to the white one with constant stirring).
How to handle with urea
Urea (carbamide) is a nitrogen-containing fertilizer, but it is also used in the fight against insect pests. A working solution is prepared for autumn processing:
- 30 gr. mineral substance;
- 10 liters of water.
Plants are sprayed in front of the cover. The tool effectively fights phylloxera, leafworm, aphids, and prevents root rot. Urea can be called a universal product, however, like any chemical, it requires adherence to the dosage when diluting the solution.
The finished mixture retains its properties for no more than 2 weeks. Better yet, cook it as much as needed for processing. And it's easy to calculate the amount, given that 1.5 liters are consumed per 10 m2.
Soda and potassium permanganate in the garden
Along with chemicals, gardeners often use traditional methods of fighting insects and diseases. For autumn processing, working solutions are used based on potassium permanganate and soda.
- Baking soda has disinfecting and antifungal effects, and it does an excellent job of reducing powdery mildew on grapes. The mixture for spraying is prepared from water, liquid soap, soda and vegetable oil, taken in equal proportions (5 tablespoons per 5 liters of water). To achieve the desired effect, the procedure must be repeated 2-3 times weekly before wrapping the bush.
- A solution based on potassium permanganate is rightfully considered universal, because it helps to get rid of gray mold, powdery mildew, powdery mildew. But when using a substance, it is important not to overdo it with its amount. Liquid for processing is easy to prepare, add 5 g to a bucket of water. dark crystalline powder. The water should turn pink (not dark!). All surfaces of the vine and the soil around the bush are sprayed generously. Diluted manganese should be used immediately.
Application of fungicides in the garden
After harvesting, you should not wait for November to carry out preparatory work to shelter the grapes. It is better to carry out the treatment immediately, so as not to allow the lesions to spread throughout all the bushes. The process itself is simple, the main thing is to choose a suitable fungicide, the action of which is aimed at treating a specific disease. The use of complex preparations is also allowed.
- If spots or signs of mildew are found on the leaves and shoots, it is recommended to cut off the damaged areas of the plant, and spray the bush itself with one of the effective means: Strobi, Ridomil, Amistar, Acrobat, Mikal.
- When identifying traces of oidium, the following are used: Azorizin, Topaz, Impact, Atemi.
- To get rid of pests (leafworms, ticks, aphids and other parasites) will help: Polychom, Fundazol, Rovikurt.
- If, when examining the grapes, mites were found, then it is necessary to produce the chasing of the shoots (removal of the tops), while getting rid of 80-90% of the insects at once. Spray the rest of the plant with Ridomil or Aktara.
- For the prevention of gray rot, the following are used: Rock, Rovral, Switch, Euparen.
Often, in addition to the main action, fungicides provide prophylaxis against fungal diseases, which excludes additional treatment from anthracnose, phomipsis, etc.
How vineyard protection helps fight disease and pests
When spraying in the autumn, you should not be afraid to use chemicals. For the plant and the future harvest, they do not pose a danger, and the benefits of their action are invaluable.
It is recommended to alternate preparations for treating the vine, so as not to addictive pathogens to the action of the active components.
The processing of grapes, carried out in the fall, solves several problems at once: the immunity of the plant is strengthened, larvae and harmful microorganisms are destroyed, the affected area is localized, which was not identified during the examination of the vine. All goals are conventionally divided into preventive and curative.
- It is necessary to process after trimming with copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture... The funds create protection against fungal infections, replenish the deficiency of iron and other trace elements that ensure the life of the plant. With the onset of cold weather, rodents are activated, which strive to feast on the bark and even grape roots. The drugs repel pests: Tricot, Storm, Blockade.
- The use of fungicides has a therapeutic effect when spraying bushes. The lesions (identified and hidden) are localized. The preparations, penetrating into the layers of the bark, kill developing microorganisms, leaving them no chance for wintering.
- In addition, it is necessary to whitewash the trunk to avoid rodents eating the bark.
Processing bushes in horticulture takes a little time, and the benefits of the event are obvious. Therefore, it is not worth saving a few hours, endangering the future harvest.