Bordeaux liquid, which has been used in gardening for many years, is one of the most effective fungicides. This chemical is marketed as a mixture. It is bred in a certain proportion with water. Bordeaux liquid can be easily prepared from lime and copper sulphate. In this case, when using quicklime, it should be extinguished first. To do this, pour the semi-finished product in a plastic or enameled container with two volumes of clean water. The container with the drug is closed with a lid. At the end of the “boil”, lime becomes a “fluff”, from which “lime milk” can be prepared.
To obtain 10 l of Bordeaux liquid (1%), 100 g of copper sulfate is dissolved in water. Then the volume is adjusted to 5 liters. In a separate bowl, 100 g of “fluff” are diluted, filtered and, continuously stirring, poured into a bucket of dissolved copper sulfate. Mixing water should be cold.
Sometimes 3% Bordeaux fluid is needed. The use in gardening of this more concentrated solution is strictly limited by the processing time (it is suitable only for early spring spraying). To prepare such a solution, they take not 100 g of vitriol and lime, but 300 g each. A good working mixture has a slightly alkaline or neutral environment. If metal objects dropped into the solution (nail, knife) become covered with reddish spots from excess copper, then it has an acid reaction. Such Bordeaux fluid can cause burns to plant tissue. Prepare the solution before use, as it quickly loses its properties.
Why is Bordeaux fluid needed? The use of this fungicide is based on its properties to destroy pathogens of various fungal diseases. The history of its use has been around for 100 years. Bordeaux liquid, the use of which in the gardening is also advisable as a prophylactic, is used throughout the entire vegetation period of plants. How to use this drug?
Bordeaux liquid, which every gardener is obligated to buy, is most often used before buds open (early spring spraying). Sometimes it is used in the summer. Repeated treatments are required to protect the grapes from fungal diseases. It effectively eliminates the causative agents of moniliosis, scab (pears and apples), anthracnose and septoria (in currants), mildew (in grapes). In addition to use in gardening, this fungicide is also successfully used in gardening. It protects potatoes and tomatoes from late blight, cucumbers - from peronosporosis.
What else is Bordeaux fluid used for? Application in gardening and horticulture: spotting; fruit rot; monial peach burn; Anthracnose raspberries and gooseberries; peronospore of hops; alfalfa spotting; downy mildew on watermelons, melons, cucumbers and sugar beets.
Some inexperienced people often misuse special drugs. Many believe that Bordeaux fluid is suitable for treating any disease of various plants. The use of this fungicide is practically useless in relation to real powdery mildew fungi. For the processing of 1 ha of orchards, 10-20 kg of Bordeaux mixture is used, in the fields - 7-8 kg, on the vine and berries - 10-15 kg. The last treatment is carried out 10-15 days before harvesting.