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Most pests of berry bushes manage to overwinter in the soil, old leaves. Treating currants with copper sulfate at the very beginning of spring will help neutralize insects, prevent their reproduction and prevent the harm that they can cause to plants.
The event carried out for preventive purposes is the guarantor of a rich harvest. In spring, it is easier to influence pests due to their low activity. It is worth finding out how to prepare a solution of copper sulfate and what are the rules for processing with a chemical agent.
The procedure will require very little time, while the benefits of it are difficult to overestimate.
Is it possible to process currants with copper sulfate
The goal of any gardener is to grow healthy berries and fruits. vegetables. Copper sulfate or copper sulfate has been used in horticulture for a long time. Its effectiveness has been proven in the fight against pathogenic fungi and pests. Despite the fact that the drug has been used for several decades, and during this time new means have appeared, it remains in demand today. Copper sulfate not only protects plants, but also has a beneficial effect on the quality of the future crop.
Spring treatment of currant bushes with copper sulphate should be carried out in compliance with the dosage and processing time.
The solution has the property of drying, easy burning. When exposed to young leaves and shoots, in addition to destroying the fungus and its spores, it is possible to get burned. It is for this reason that it is advisable to use the drug for prophylactic purposes before bud break. The procedure is carried out in the spring, when the ambient temperature is not higher than +5 ⁰С. They are treated with currant branches, near-stem circles of plants.
Why do you need to process currants with copper sulfate
The appearance of the drug is a powder consisting of blue crystals. Its action is manifested as:
- Fungicide that protects currants from fungal diseases;
- Antiseptic, stopping putrefactive processes;
- An insecticide that destroys insects that harm currants;
- Fertilizers that improve the composition of the soil, increasing the yield.
Copper sulfate refers to fungicides intended for the treatment of currants from a number of diseases:
- scab;
- moniliosis;
- anthracnose;
- alternariosis;
- ascochitosis;
- rust;
- downy mildew;
- spotting.
The action of copper sulphate is superficial, the main substance (copper) is not absorbed. After rain or watering, it is washed off, its work stops, but the fungi are destroyed from contact, and the growth of the mycelium only stops.
Another purpose of copper sulfate is to use it as a fertilizer to compensate for the lack of copper in the soil. Experts recommend its use on peat and sandy soils, where the trace element deficiency is especially pronounced. The imbalance can be easily eliminated by adding powder (1 g per 1 sq. M) to the soil once a year. Copper sulphate is used as an independent agent and together with lime as part of the Bordeaux mixture
How to dilute copper sulfate for spraying currants
The lack of results when spraying currants with copper sulfate in the spring is due to errors in the application and dilution of the drug.
It must be remembered that spring processing is carried out in the “green cone” stage.
When leaves appear, it is already too late to process, because time is lost, the plant can get burned.
To obtain a solution, you must:
- Prepare a glass or enamel container and hot water (about 50⁰С).
- Copper sulfate must be poured into hot water and placed in a water bath to speed up the process.
- Pour the prepared solution into the sprayer tank.
- Bring the concentration to the required values.
- Carry out the processing of currants.
To process currants, copper sulfate can be diluted in different proportions, depending on the purpose:
- therapeutic – 3% (300 g of copper sulfate per 10 liters of water);
- preventive – 0,5% – 1% (50 – 100 g per 10 liters of water).
You should know that with an increase in the amount of water, a decrease in the concentration of the solution, its color becomes more saturated – from blue to dark blue.
Processing is carried out early in the morning or late in the evening, in calm weather. When breeding copper sulphate, safety measures should be observed:
- use rubber gloves;
- carry out work away from children and animals;
- avoid getting the solution on open areas of the body;
- rinse thoroughly under running water if this occurs;
- only the required amount of solution should be prepared.
How to treat currants with copper sulfate
To disinfect the root system and crown of currants in early spring, they are treated with copper sulphate. Under the bushes, the soil is sprayed with a prophylactic solution. First, you should remove all last year’s foliage from under the bush and repair the damage on the branches with garden pitch.
On the basis of copper sulphate, Bordeaux liquid is prepared, which also includes lime. Such a solution can harm the larvae and eggs of pests, corroding them.
When preparing the mixture yourself, you should strictly adhere to the proportions, otherwise the currant bushes may be damaged.
For processing carried out before bud break, you will need a 3% mixture:
- Both components, vitriol and lime, are bred in different containers (glass or plastic).
- A solution of copper sulfate is poured into a solution of lime.
- After mixing, the composition is filtered.
The average consumption for one currant bush is 1,5 liters of solution. Currants are processed with Bordeaux liquid using a sprayer of one of three types:
- mechanical – air is pumped into the tank manually, using a manual pump;
- power – pressure is created automatically, by an electric motor;
- gasoline-powered – work on the basis of an internal combustion engine.
For small areas, a mechanical one is quite enough, large areas of currants require electrical and gasoline-powered devices.
When spraying, it is necessary to ensure that the ground and parts of the plants are evenly covered with the solution.
Pest and disease control is effective if carried out annually, regularly.
Tips from experienced gardeners
When processing currants, gardeners recommend following certain rules:
- since copper sulphate is an acidic salt, the pH of the soil should be monitored and the acidity reduced if necessary;
- copper sulfate is a chemical, so gloves, boots, glasses, a respirator should be used when working with it;
- spraying should not be carried out in early autumn;
- the beneficial properties of the drug are reduced if, after processing, the currant gets caught in the rain;
- you need to constantly monitor the plants so as not to miss the moment of need for spraying.
Conclusion
Processing currants with copper sulfate is considered a productive tool in the fight against pests and fungal diseases. It is necessary to accurately determine the time and need for spraying, apply the desired concentration of the solution so as not to cause additional damage to the plants.
Care for berry bushes should be comprehensive: timely and regular pruning, feeding and processing with folk remedies and chemicals ensures the health of currants and a rich harvest of berries.