How to make Bordeaux mixture for spraying tomatoes 

Tomatoes are among the crops that are prone to fungal diseases. The most effective method of dealing with such lesions is Bordeaux mixture. It can be made at home with the obligatory observance of technology. When processing a tomato with Bordeaux liquid, it is important to adhere to safety measures.

When to apply the solution

Bordeaux liquid is used to combat late blight, streak, brown spot. These diseases are spread by a fungus that affects tomato leaves, stems, root system, and ripening fruits.

Phytophthora has the following manifestations:

• the appearance of weeping spots on the foliage, which become darker over time;
• on the other side of the sheet there is a white coating;
• subsequently, the leaves of the tomatoes dry up;
• the fruits turn brown and become unsuitable for consumption.

With late blight, you need to immediately take action on the use of Bordeaux liquid, since the disease quickly affects other seedlings.

Streak is another dangerous disease that can affect the entire plant. It is diagnosed for a number of reasons:

• the presence of brick-colored spots on tomatoes;
• the plant develops more slowly and withers;
• rot and yellow spots appear on the fruits.

Tomatoes growing in a greenhouse are susceptible to brown spotting. The disease is determined by the following symptoms:

• at the top of the seedling, spots of a light shade appear, which grow and turn brown;
• brown spots form on the lower part of the plant.

Apply Bordeaux liquid by spraying tomatoes. Due to the high toxicity of the resulting substance, it is necessary to follow the procedure for its preparation and further use.

The solution helps in the prevention of viral diseases of tomatoes. At the same time, the established proportions and manufacturing technology are observed.

Component Calculation

During the preparation of the solution, the proportions must be strictly observed. The most commonly used mixture with a concentration of Bordeaux mixture of 0,75% and 1%.

The sequence of actions for obtaining a solution of any type is identical. Only the proportions of the constituent substances change.

0,75% solution of the drug includes:

• 10 L of water;
• 0,075 kg of copper sulfate;
• 0,1 kg unquenched report (SaO).

For a 1% solution you will need:

• 10 L of water;
• 0,1 kg of copper sulfate;
• 0,15 kg unquenched report (SaO).

Where to find components

Copper sulphate and quicklime can be purchased at specialized garden and garden stores. Substances are supplied packed in bags. It is best to buy immediately the required volume, which can be immediately used to prepare Bordeaux mixture.

Quicklime has a crystalline structure. It is obtained after roasting limestone rocks. Lime requires caution when working, because it has a second class of safety.

Copper sulphate comes in the form of bright blue crystals. If the shelf life of the powder has exceeded two years, then the solution will not have the desired effect. It should be stored in a cool dry place, protected from the sun.

What is needed for the solution

To obtain a solution of Bordeaux liquid, you need to prepare in advance:

• two containers (for 5 and 10 l);
• sieve;
• gauze for filtering;
• a nail or any other metal object;
• kitchen scales, if the components are purchased in larger quantities;
• wooden stick for mixing the solution.

Containers made of glass, wood, plastic are used to mix the components. It is allowed to use enamelware without chips.

Cooking procedure

How to dilute Bordeaux mixture describes the following procedure:

1. Pour 1 liter of hot water into a five-liter bucket.
2. Dilute copper sulfate in water in the required amount.
3. Thoroughly mix the mixture with a stick, add cold water to completely fill the bucket.
4. A bucket of 10 liters is filled with 2 liters of cold water, after which quicklime is added.
5. To extinguish the lime, mix the mixture well. Due to the interaction of CaO and water, the so-called milk of lime is formed.
6. Pour cold water into the second bucket up to half the volume.
7. Copper sulphate is carefully poured from the first bucket into a container with milk of lime.
8. The quality of the solution is checked. The result is a turquoise solution without flakes and impurities.
9. The solution is filtered through gauze folded in several layers. For these purposes, a fine sieve is suitable.
10. Diluted Bordeaux liquid can be used to process tomatoes in a greenhouse.

The order of preparation of the mixture must be observed in the sequence indicated. If the technology is violated, the solution will not only lose its properties, but can also become dangerous for tomatoes.

During work it is strictly forbidden:

• add milk of lime to the mixture with vitriol, then the resulting product will be ineffective;
• mix the components in a dry form, and then add water;
• use substances of different temperatures (they must be equally cold).

Quality checking

In the case of proper proportions and technology, Bordeaux liquid has the following characteristics:

• suspension-like consistency;
• bright blue color;
• reaction to the addition of alkali.

If the product has an increased acidity, then the leaves of the plants will be damaged. As a result, a yellow mesh appears on the tomatoes, or the fruits crack. If the alkaline reaction is pronounced, then the drug will not stay on the green parts of the plants.

The presence of a precipitate in the solution, which is formed with an excess of lime, is allowed. This usually happens when proportions are violated. Precipitation does not affect the properties of the Bordeaux liquid, and such a solution is completely ready for use.

You can check the acidity of a solution in the following ways:

• litmus paper (should not change color);
• phenolphthalein paper (becomes crimson).

If a red copper coating does not appear on the item, then everything is cooked correctly. Then we additionally dilute the solution with lime milk.

The order of application

Bordeaux liquid is evenly sprayed with tomatoes in the greenhouse. To do this, it is recommended to choose a special sprayer with a small tip.

When choosing a time for work, two nuances are taken into account:

• the procedure is not carried out if there are plants near the processing site that are ready to harvest in the next 2-3 weeks;
• if 2 weeks are left before the ripening of tomatoes, the solution is forbidden to be used;
• processing is delayed during flowering and fruit formation of the plant.

Parts of the plant on which signs of the disease have appeared are treated with Bordeaux liquid. The solution should evenly cover the leaves and stems of tomatoes.

During the work, you need to ensure that the solution does not get on the skin. In the future, before eating tomatoes, they must be thoroughly washed.

The processing intensity is as follows:

• the total number of procedures per season should not exceed four;
• for processing tomatoes, a 1% agent or solution with a weaker concentration is used;
• the procedure is carried out three times with a break of up to 10 days;
• when a disease appears on tomato seedlings, they are treated 10-14 days before planting in a greenhouse or soil.

Main advantages

The use of Bordeaux liquid solution has a number of undoubted advantages:

• high efficiency;
• suitable for combating a wide range of tomato diseases;
• duration of action up to 30 days;
• the quality of processing is monitored (after the solution hits the plant, its parts acquire a blue tint);
• the solution remains on the leaves of tomatoes even after watering and rains;
• availability in gardening stores;
• safe for insects that pollinate tomatoes.

The main disadvantages

When using the solution, you need to consider certain nuances:

• the need to observe the proportions of substances and spraying technology;
• the probability of falling fruits of tomatoes after processing remains;
• with repeated spraying, the earth accumulates copper, which negatively affects the growth of tomatoes;
• in case of an overdose, tomato leaves are damaged, the fruits crack, and the development of new shoots slows down.

Safety Precautions

To prevent chemicals from damaging the soil and the health of the gardener, precautions must be taken:

• when interacting with the mixture, protective equipment is used (rubber gloves, respirators, goggles, etc.);
• when using the solution, it is forbidden to smoke, eat food or drink;
• processing of tomatoes with Bordeaux liquid is not performed immediately before picking tomatoes;
• after work, you need to thoroughly wash your hands and face;
• children and animals should not be present during the procedure.

When these symptoms appear, you need to call an ambulance team. If the substance enters the body through the respiratory tract, then diuretic and antipyretic drugs are taken.

If the solution has come into contact with the skin, then the affected area is thoroughly washed with water. In cases of penetration of poison into the body with food, the stomach is washed and activated charcoal is taken.

Conclusion

Bordeaux liquid is an effective tool for combating fungal infections of tomatoes. Its preparation takes place strictly according to the recipe. The solution is suitable for use in greenhouse and outdoor conditions. The resulting mixture has a toxic effect, therefore, precautions must be observed. The solution not only allows you to cope with diseases of tomatoes, but also serves as a means of preventing them.