Using copper spray
keepitlow
15 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (23)
sautesmom Sacramento
15 years agoRelated Discussions
apricot blight
Comments (1)Pgiordano: I visited your blog and was unable to find anything resembling a photgraph of apricots. For me to be able to view you photo, you will have to tell me where and how to find it on the "blog", the purpose of which is not at all clear to me. Nonetheless, I will venture an opinion on what is wrong with your apricots, and it is not "blight". Blight is a catch-all word, used to describe many different types of plant infections, usually fungal in origin. I suspect that the little oozing spots on your apricots are due to visits by the oriental fruit moth. In the Washington, D.C. area (of which I am a part), this insect is ever-present, and the only way to grow stone fruits such as apricots, peaches, and plums is to spray the trees and fruit, beginning very soon after petal fall, with an effective insecticide. If you choose to subsequently protect the fruits in something like nylon shoe-store try-on "footies", as I often do, you must still spray the fruit until it achieves such a size that it can be selected, thinned, and bagged. Otherwise the oriental fruit moth (OFM) will visit nearly every fruit, and will continue to do so throughout the season until very late. Copper spray is a good dormant spray for overwintering fungal diseases such as mildews and some leaf maladies, but it has no insecticidal properties at all. Copper is a fungicide, and, marginally, a bactericide. This year I picked over 150 pounds of large, perfect apricots from 3 trees, but not without a lot of care and attention. I use permethrin as a fruit tree insecticide, as well as imidan. You could do the same, but you would have to do something similar to the procedures I follow. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA...See MoreAnyone up on the toxicity issues of copper on earthworms?
Comments (15)Thanks for the responses. Let me clarify a bit on why I have had to use copper. I am growing vinafera grapes. The number of people successfully growing vinafera grapes organically in the entire mid-atlantic region is, to my current knowledge, one -- myself. (Well I am sure there are a few more but it must be very uncommon). There are a few people growing vinafera organically in NY and other somewhat less disease-ridden places. Anyway even if my soil were the best in the world there is no way to grow vinafera here without a significant spray regimen. My current experiment is to spray copper plus Surround plus Nufilm on the undersides of the leaves; the Surround seems to physically interfere with the downy in some way which tends to start on the bottoms of the leaves, and since it is on the underside and plastered on with nufim, the spray stays there a long time since the rain can't get to it. I am hoping that I can double or more the length of time that a spray lasts with this technique. Maybe I can even cut back on the copper strength. I tried milk, bicarb, sulphur, and others with no luck at all. They work fine on powdery but downy gets into the leaf tissue itself and these sprays just don't work. I am also experimenting with different varieties, I have several dozen. I have found a couple vinafera that seem to have much better disease resistance. My favorite so far is an obscure Portuguese variety called Tinta Pinheira which is known in Portugal for its resistance to diseases. I was out looking last night and it is completely clean of diseases now. I also have many hybrids, but none of the red hybrids make a good wine as far as I am concerned. Well they make a fine wine but its just not the kind of wine I like to drink. The white hybrids on the other hand make some very good wines and all my white wine grapes are hybrids. This whole effort is still in the experimental phases, I have already gotten rid of a half a dozen varieties that seemed to be too disease-prone and I will probably be getting rid of several more. Anyway with regard to copper it sounds like most people here are not using it at all - ? Scott...See MoreTimetable for alternating Daconil with copper spray
Comments (2)Daconil (a Preventative) won't help on the plants that are already diseased. Agri-Fos or(Exel-LG same product different name) is also a good bio friendly fungicide that is a systemic along with Actinovate make a good team. Alternating applications on a weekly basis as Dave suggested or more often if you get rain. Ami...See MoreCitris - really struggling
Comments (9)What sort of lime, lemon and mandarin have you planted? Washington naval oranges prefer a warmer climate than is generally available in Victoria (not that valencias like it too cold), mandarins prefer mild coastal conditions and lemons, well, they are usually a bit hardier than the other two but also like a 'Mediterranean' climate. There are 2 main or popular varieties, Meyer and Eureka. I think I heard somewhere that meyer performs better in the cooler climes, however, I planted a eureka some years ago in my mild to sub-tropical climate and it failed so I replaced it with a meyer and that's thriving. They all need a sunny, well drained position free of weeds or other growth and generally require feeding with manures or other fertilisers. They certainly do not like to be waterlogged. Subject to climatic conditions, on the basis of your description I tend to think it might be a soil problem. Might be an idea to take a goodly sample along to your local nursery and see if they can analyse it for you. Oh, and the only lime I use is dolomite, it's milder than garden or horticultural lime....See Morekeepitlow
15 years agoScott F Smith
15 years agokeepitlow
15 years agoScott F Smith
15 years agoMichael
15 years agosautesmom Sacramento
15 years agojellyman
15 years agoScott F Smith
15 years agoglenn_russell
15 years agoolpea
15 years agoMichael
15 years agoolpea
15 years agoglenn_russell
15 years agoMichael
15 years agokeepitlow
15 years agoScott F Smith
15 years agoglenn_russell
15 years agoorganojoe
15 years agoMichael
15 years agoorganojoe
15 years agoorganojoe
15 years ago
Related Stories
MATERIALSInsulation Basics: What to Know About Spray Foam
Learn what exactly spray foam is, the pros and cons of using it and why you shouldn’t mess around with installation
Full StoryMETALCopper, the Dynamic Topper
Time changes copper’s appearance on walls, fireplaces and more, but your love of its look may spring eternal
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNSurprise Contender: Copper for Kitchen Countertops
Unexpected and full of character, copper is getting buffed for its growing appearance on the countertop scene
Full StorySHOP HOUZZShop Houzz: Modern Copper for Every Room
Copper’s rich color adds warmth and beauty to modern designs
Full StoryMETALCopper: A Traditional Metal Gets a Shiny Update
Although the metal is no stranger to home design, these days its uses are downright brilliant
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGShine On: How to Clean Copper
Restore the luster to your copper pots and pans with these tips for using both natural and store-bought cleaners
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESWeed War: When and How to Use Chemical Herbicides
Before you spray, arm yourself with knowledge about which weed killers — natural or synthetic — are right for your yard
Full StoryFENCES AND GATESA Designer Uses PVC Pipe to Cast a Modern Garden Gate
Landscape designer Scot Eckley walks us through the process of creating a custom aluminum ring gate
Full StoryPAINTINGWhat to Know About Milk Paint and Chalk Paint — and How to Use Them
Learn the pros, cons, cost and more for these two easy-to-use paints that are great for giving furniture a vintage look
Full StoryGREEN BUILDINGHouzz Call: What Have You Salvaged for Home Use?
If your floors, furniture, exterior materials or other home elements have a past life, we'd like to hear the story
Full Story
Scott F Smith