Bordeaux liquid: application in horticulture

The modern market of chemicals against garden pests offers a very wide range of powders, granules, suspensions, liquids. Many of them have been known for a long time and evaluated for effectiveness by the target consumer audience. For example, Bordeaux liquid is a composition that has been used by most gardeners and vegetable growers for a very long time. This substance is so often mentioned on thematic forums where farmers discuss ways to combat pests and diseases that we decided to devote a separate article to it.

Composition of Bordeaux liquid

There is nothing secret and incomprehensible in the recipe of this popular remedy. Moreover, they began to use it back in the 19th century - it was during this period that scientists discovered the fungicidal quality of an aqueous solution of copper sulfate and calcium hydroxide.

Before you prepare Bordeaux liquid at home, you need to stock up on copper sulfate and lime, and water is already available at every site. Such a composition may have a concentration of 1% to 3%. What kind of "strength" the liquid should be in each case depends, among other things, on the degree of damage to the vegetable garden, berry plantation, garden plants or vineyard.

Important! When deciding to dilute Bordeaux spray liquid, be careful. It is toxic to humans and warm-blooded animals, like any other copper compound. In any case, the processing of plants should be done at least 2 weeks before harvest, and preferably a month.

Advice # 1: how to prepare a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture

Ideally, rainwater should be used. The proportions are:

• 100 g of copper sulfate;
• 100 g lime;
• 10 liters of water.

First you need to mix copper sulfate with 5 liters of water in a glass, wood or clay container. A similar procedure must be performed in another container with lime. Further, the solution of vitriol is poured into the lime mortar in a very calm thin stream, while stirring. As a result of the reaction in the container, a liquid of bright blue color should be obtained.

Important! If you are going to make Bordeaux spray for the first time, then strictly follow the recommendations above. It is necessary to connect the compositions in the specified sequence - copper sulfate + lime.

Tip # 2: the algorithm for preparing a 3% solution of Bordeaux mixture

The procedure for the manufacture of a more concentrated composition is the same as described for a 1% solution. Just the amount of ingredients used is slightly different:

• 300 g of copper sulfate;
• 400 g lime;
• 10 liters of water.

As in the first case, the lime must be freshly slaked. There are no other differences.

It is convenient to buy all components together

A solution of Bordeaux liquid can be purchased in the "dry version". In stores, the drug is sold in packages. There, copper sulphate and lime are packaged in separate bags. In addition, there is an indicator strip to check the quality of the prepared mixture. On the packaging, of course, recommendations are written on how to cook - Bordeaux mixture must be combined according to the indicated recipe.

Important! The litmus indicator signals differently in different environments: yellow (original paper color) - neutral environment, raspberry color (not to be confused with red) - acidic environment, blue color - alkaline environment.

How to understand if ready-made Bordeaux liquid is safe for plants

Before applying the composition made, it is worthwhile to find out whether they have “overdone it” with the amount of copper sulphate. Even if there is no litmus test, you need to do the following: take a steel object without signs of corrosion (you can use a nail) and lower it to the bottom of the container with Bordeaux liquid. If a red tint appears on the metal, then there is an excess of this component. To even out the situation in the solution you need to add a little lime. Next, you need to again perform a simple safety check of the composition - this will ensure that the plants are not in danger of being burned.

What is the danger to humans

When working with this composition, priority should be given to personal safety measures. You need to get down to business in clothes with long sleeves and trousers. It is imperative to protect the respiratory organs, at least with a medical mask.

If you neglect the implementation of these rules in the process, you can breathe in a harmful substance. As a result, a person will feel signs of fever, bloating, nosebleeds, tachycardia will appear. This state may last for several days.

If a substance is swallowed, for example, when eating processed vegetables or fruits, serious poisoning occurs. At the first symptoms of malaise, it is urgent to rinse the stomach, take cardiac pharmaceuticals. Oral intake of saline and protein liquid solutions is also indicated.

Scope of application

Protection for tomatoes

The answer to the question of how to treat tomatoes with Bordeaux liquid is very simple - a spraying procedure is performed. First of all, it is performed against phytophthora. It is right to do this long before harvesting, as a preventive measure against this scourge. When tomatoes are already hanging and ripening on the plants, we recommend that you refuse this drug. From our point of view, the effectiveness in the fight against late blight is very controversial. But it is categorically impossible to use tomatoes for food or for homemade preparations after Bordeaux mixture.

Save cucumbers

Bordeaux liquid for cucumbers is used. For early shoots, a 3% solution is shown. During the growing season, the composition of a weaker concentration is already allowed. In this case, the frequency of spraying is limited to three times. It is believed that processing will help to cope with such diseases of cucumbers as:

• sclerotinism;
• verdigris;
• bacteriosis;
• ascochitosis;
• olive blotch;
• peronosporiosis.

Attention! The composition is also shown from powdery mildew on cucumbers, as well as other plants in the garden and in the garden. In this regard, the liquid is a universal remedy and really allows you to overcome the disease very well.

Waiting period in days

Important! In the manufacture of the composition, it is important not only to strictly follow the recipe. The drug must also be freshly prepared. If, nevertheless, the situation has developed in such a way that the liquid has to be applied the next day, then you need to add sugar to the solution. This component is enough 5-10 g per bucket of composition of 1% concentration.

Compatibility with other drugs

Definitely use Bordeaux liquid together with insecticides is not allowed. But it is not worth ignoring these modern drugs at all. As a compromise, you can use copper-containing substitutes, such as: "Copper oxychloride" or "Kuprokat".

The frequency of spraying is from 10 to 14 days - this is the time of the protective action of the solution.

Dear readers! And what is your experience of using Bordeaux liquid in the garden? We are very interested in your opinion - share it, it is very important.