Treating potatoes against the Colorado potato beetle before planting

Why is it necessary to process potatoes?

Before potatoes reach our tables, they undergo a long process of weeding, watering, fertilizing, and chemical treatment. Incidentally, this last point deserves further consideration, as not all gardeners know how to treat potatoes before planting. A wide range of specialized products are now available to combat the Colorado potato beetle and other diseases. However, the challenge often lies in choosing the most appropriate chemical composition. Anyone who decides to grow this crop in their garden should know how to avoid exposing themselves and their family to the risk of pesticide poisoning.

Years of planting have cleared up the issue of the timeliness of chemical treatments for potato tubers. It turns out that the fruits are best protected from harmful bacteria and insect pests if they are treated before planting. The material, coated with potent substances, doesn't attract pests, protecting it from attack and allowing it to grow properly.

Moreover, pre-planting treatment has repeatedly helped gardeners achieve a more abundant potato harvest, which is invaluable for both large-scale farming and modest home storage. When answering the question of how to treat potatoes before planting against the Colorado potato beetle, reviews play a significant role.

There's such a wide variety of chemical products available in retail that gardeners are overwhelmed. They typically have different purposes and areas of action. These products can be roughly divided into groups based on their intended purpose:

• pest repellents;
• helping to reduce susceptibility to specific diseases;
• increasing productivity;
• universal impact.

As for protection against the Colorado potato beetle, these are perhaps the most popular. That's why they deserve special attention. Find out How to fertilize potatoes for the best harvest.

Chemicals against Colorado potato beetles

Anyone who has been growing potatoes for several years or is hoping to harvest their first crop should know how to treat potatoes before planting to prevent Colorado potato beetles and wireworms. The latter pest is no less dangerous to root crops, and its appearance can be prevented in the early stages before planting, using the same products that help prevent striped beetles.

The most common chemicals for processing potatoes in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus are:

• "Maxim";
• "Prestige";
• "Cruiser".

There's no doubt in the effectiveness of these products that any experienced gardener has. The advantages of these formulations include their possible combination, which allows for enhanced protection. It's best to carry out Potato planting in 2016 according to the lunar calendar.

One important detail should also be considered before treating potatoes against the Colorado potato beetle before planting. The taboo on using such products is explained by their mode of action. Such pesticides pose a threat to early-ripening vegetables. At least 60 days must pass after treatment before they can be used as food, meaning this factor must be taken into account when planting. Accumulated toxic substances may be present in early potato varieties. However, for long-term winter storage, treatment with such products is the best solution.

Today, pest control solutions, including those against the Colorado potato beetle, are quite common. These solutions not only kill harmful insects or combat diseases, but also often serve as growth promoters and additional nutrition. Since these products can be hazardous to human health, many people ask, regarding the early harvest: "How should I treat potatoes against the Colorado potato beetle before planting?" Besides "Prestige," there are many other effective solutions.

Typically, they are applied a couple of days before planting. Poteytin or Mikom are quite economical; one ampoule of each is enough to spray 80 kg of planting material. For planting a modest plot of land, one dose of the product is quite sufficient.

Nitrophoska and Rastvorin have been renowned for their effectiveness for many years. These pest control products can be considered true classic versions of pesticides. Sometimes, they are used not only on potato tubers but also on the soil where root crops are planted.

Folk recipes for caring for potatoes

Folk remedies for getting rid of the Colorado potato beetle deserve special consideration, as not long ago, they were the only way to protect crops from pests. Experienced gardeners know how to treat potatoes against the Colorado potato beetle without chemicals before planting. Moreover, these pest control methods are now affordable and relatively safe. They promote root growth and protect against infection just as effectively as specialized treatments. Many gardeners are ready to protect their crops by using these methods.

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Another time-tested method is a manganese permanent solution. When deciding how to treat potatoes against the Colorado potato beetle before planting (video tutorials will help you make the right choice), don't rule out this method; at least as a preventative measure, it will never cause harm. One gram of dry manganese per liter of water is enough to prepare a solution. Similar to the previous treatment option, the same steps should be taken in this case. The Colorado potato beetle won't interfere with normal potato growth, and underground pests like wireworms and mole crickets will be able to attack the tubers.

Before treating potatoes for Colorado potato beetles before planting, whether choosing a folk remedy or purchasing a chemical from a specialized store, it's important to read user reviews and potential recommendations.