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Every year, gardeners across the country struggle with the Colorado potato beetle. In specialized stores there is a huge selection of drugs from this pest. Often gardeners have to experiment for a long time to find an effective remedy. Many opted for the drug “Prestige”. How exactly this substance differs from other means, and how to use it correctly, we will see below.
Description of the preparation
“Prestige” is a concentrated suspension that must be diluted immediately before use. The tool consists of two main substances:
- pencycuron in the amount of 150 grams per liter;
- imidacloprid in the amount of 140 grams per liter.
The first substance belongs to pesticides, but at the same time it perfectly fights various fungi. Thus, you can not only get rid of beetles, but also carry out prevention from diseases. Imidacloprid belongs to the chlornicotinyl class. These are substances with a fast mechanism of action.
After planting the tubers, moisture carries the substance throughout the soil. Thus, a protective shell is formed around the bushes. Growing tops also absorb the product. Having processed potatoes before planting, you can not worry about the appearance of beetles during the entire growing season. In addition, potatoes are protected from diseases such as leaf rust, rot and powdery mildew.
The drug also helps potatoes to more easily endure hot weather and changing weather conditions. In addition, “Prestige” has an effect on the growth of bushes and even tubers. Processing with this tool helps to grow potatoes with an excellent presentation.
How Prestige works
As mentioned above, the drug contains 2 main components. Imidacloprid is aimed at the fight against Colorado potato beetles. This substance enters the body of the pest and completely paralyzes it. Due to the affected nervous system, the insect simply dies. But pentsikuron is responsible for the health of the bushes. It is an excellent fungicide that prevents plants from picking up the fungus.
It is enough to use the tool once to forget about the beetles for the whole season. To do this, before planting, potato tubers should be treated with a preparation. Please note that “Prestige” does not protect bushes from wireworms. The instructions indicate that the substance also acts on this pest, however, the experience of gardeners shows that this is not the case.
Many people are concerned about the safety of this product for human health. It is safe to say that the substance will not harm you. The fact is that the drug accumulates precisely in the upper part of the plant, and the tubers themselves do not remain.
Most gardeners who have tested this substance in practice confirm its antifungal properties. The drug not only protects the planted tubers, but also remains in the soil for 2 months, serving as protection for both potatoes and other plants growing nearby.
Instructions for use
“Prestige” from the Colorado potato beetle is used before planting potatoes to process seed or seedlings. The solution should be prepared immediately before processing. In this case, the drug is diluted in the following ratio:
- 50 ml of the product;
- 3 liters of water.
The solution is well mixed and proceed to the procedure. This amount is enough to process about 50 kilograms of potatoes. Tubers must be evenly placed on a film or roofing material. In order for the product to be well distributed during application, the layer should be no more than 2-3 potatoes. After that, using the Prestige spray gun, spray the potatoes so that the substance covers at least a quarter of each tuber. If the solution cannot be applied well, you can turn the potatoes over and repeat the procedure. The better the sprayer, the better it will be possible to apply the product.
The instructions for use do not indicate whether it is possible to process chopped potatoes. However, most experienced gardeners do not advise doing this. Before processing, the tubers must be pulled out of the cellar and placed in a warm place so that the potatoes warm up. It should also be a little sprouted. After applying the product, the tubers should stand for 2 hours.
It is necessary to move the potatoes to the site after the procedure in a bag. Processing of seed material by “Prestige” helps to destroy all pathogens, various infections and microorganisms. In addition, the drug increases the immunity of potatoes for the entire period of growth.
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Some gardeners process the tubers even before germination, about 2 weeks before planting. To do this, mix 1,2 liters of water with 60 ml of the drug. The mixture is sprayed in the same way as in the previous case. After the tubers have dried, they are moved to a place convenient for germination. It is important to consider that before planting, it is also necessary to re-spray the tubers, as in the first case. Such preparation will significantly increase the resistance of the potato and protect it from the Colorado potato beetle.
Some gardeners are accustomed to growing potatoes using seedlings. In this case, it is also possible to carry out processing with the Prestige tool. To prepare the solution, take 2 liters of water and 20 ml of the drug. The roots of the finished seedlings are lowered into the prepared mixture and left for about 8 hours. Immediately after the expiration of time, the seedlings are planted in open ground.
accident prevention
“Prestige” refers to the third class of toxicity. Such substances are harmful to the human body. To reduce the effect of the drug, it is necessary to follow the safety rules during the preparation and use of the substance. To do this, put on gloves on your hands, put on rubber boots, and you will also need protection for the respiratory tract. Clothing should cover the entire body, and a protective face mask and headgear will also come in handy.
The procedure should be carried out only in calm weather. Thus, the substance will not get to the surrounding plants or animals. At the end of the procedure, all clothes are washed and equipment is washed. Then rinse your nose and throat thoroughly. Be sure to take a shower.
Disadvantages of the drug and the rules for its storage
This remedy perfectly fights the Colorado potato beetle, however, one should not turn a blind eye to some shortcomings or nuances:
- “Prestige” cannot process early potatoes. As mentioned above, harmful substances completely come out of the fruit only after 2 months. Therefore, the preparation is more suitable for processing mid-ripening and late potatoes.
- Due to the toxicity of the drug, it is advised to use it only if no other less harmful substances help.
- The original drug is quite expensive, so some manufacturers have begun to produce fakes. Be careful not to be fooled by low prices. The official manufacturer of the Prestige product is Bayer.
The substance is stored in a dry room at a temperature not lower than -20°C and not higher than +40°C. It must be in the original packaging, away from small children and animals. The shelf life of the funds is not more than two years.
Conclusion
Gardeners spend a lot of time and effort fighting the Colorado potato beetle. “Prestige” is an excellent tool that both destroys pests and protects plants from fungi. Of course, like any other poison, this poison from the Colorado potato beetle contains substances harmful to human health. Therefore, you should be very careful when using this tool.
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