Treating grapes with ferrous sulfate: advantages and disadvantages of the product, how to dilute, when to treat, reviews

To ensure abundant grape production, grapes need to be fertilized and protected from diseases and insect pests. Among the many products available, gardeners choose iron sulfate for grapes and other fruit bushes. To ensure the product is beneficial, follow the instructions. Experienced winegrowers know exactly how to dilute the product to the required concentration, how to apply it at different stages of the growing season, and how to properly treat the plant. Following the experts' recommendations is crucial. the key to a high harvest beautiful and tasty fruits.

Why is ferrous sulfate used?

Ferrous sulfate is produced as bluish-green crystals that turn yellow when exposed to oxygen. The base of the product is iron sulfate. The powder is completely water-soluble. The prepared solution is sprayed on plants or watered at the roots.

Iron sulfate has the following benefits:

• low cost;
• wide range of applications;
• The drug is harmless in the recommended dosage.

Ferrous sulfate improves grape growth and increases yield. Preventative spraying destroys fungal spores that cause dangerous diseases. This product contains sufficient iron, which is easily absorbed by plants. No other top dressing is not able to replenish the deficiency of an important element as quickly as iron sulfate.

Main action

The use of ferrous sulfate stimulates chlorophyll production. Bushes develop properly, and leaf color deepens. Regular treatment of grapes with ferrous sulfate improves bark elasticity, promotes active lateral shoot formation, and produces large, healthy berries. The product repels and kills pests and effectively protects against fungal infections.

Gardeners use iron sulfate for the following purposes:

• pest control;
• prevention and treatment of fungal diseases;
• wound disinfection;
• replenishment of iron deficiency;
• getting rid of lichens and mosses;
• disinfection of garden equipment, vegetable storage facilities.

With timely treatment of disease The disease subsides within a few months, and no symptoms appear the following season. Fertilizing grapes with a ferrous sulfate solution promotes chlorophyll production. The bushes become stronger, grow faster, and bear fruit abundantly. Regular spraying improves the condition of the bark and green parts of the plant.

When using ferrous sulfate, one should take into account the following features, which are considered disadvantages of the drug:

• does not neutralize pathogenic bacteria;
• risk of burns on young growth;
• acts only on the surface of plants without penetrating their tissues;
• rapid oxidation of the drug in air, which leads to the loss of beneficial properties;
• short period of action – no more than 14 days.

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Mechanism of action

Ferrous sulfate acts by forming a thin, protective film on the surface of the grapevine. The active ingredients do not penetrate the plant cells. Ferrous sulfate is used to treat grapes for both preventative and therapeutic purposes. The vines must be thoroughly irrigated, leaving no untreated areas.

The active substance is only effective for two weeks and then wears off. The coating formed by spraying grapes with iron sulfate delays bud break by 14-20 days. This prevents the negative impact of spring frosts, such as reduced yield or plant death.

Terms and conditions of processing

It is recommended to treat the vineyard with ferrous sulfate twice a year. The first spraying should be done in early spring before bud formation, and the second before the fall frosts, after trimming excess and damaged stems. grape processing A dry, windless day is ideal. It's best to choose a time when rain is not expected, as the solution is easily washed off with water. If the vines are infected with a fungus, the affected areas will turn dark after the solution dries.

Spring processing

Grapes are heat-loving plants, sensitive to sudden temperature fluctuations. Spring weather is fickle. Sunny days can be followed by frosts, which can be dangerous for newly formed buds. To protect the plants, they are treated immediately upon the arrival of warm days. Bushes "awakening" from winter dormancy are uncovered and thoroughly sprayed. To prepare a 0.5% working solution, you will need a bucket of water and 50 g of powder. Spray the grapes using a sprayer with a pump.

To improve rooting of cuttings, experienced winegrowers treat their tips with a 0.5% iron sulfate solution. This inhibits bud development and stimulates the formation of new roots. Treated cuttings take root faster and grow well.

Autumn processing

At the end of the growing season, when the processes subside, preventative treatment is recommended. The vines are irrigated after the harvest and leaf fall. Mold and rot will be prevented if ferrous sulfate is applied to both the vines and the soil around the plants in the fall. Fallen leaves should be collected, as decaying particles provide a nutrient medium essential for microorganisms.

A ferrous sulfate solution for grapes is prepared in various proportions in the fall: a 3% concentration is used for young plants, while a 5% concentration is used for mature vines. Add 300 g or 500 g of the solution to 10 liters of water, respectively. Grapes are sprayed in the fall before covering for the winter. The optimal time is late October or early November. After treatment, a unique coating forms on the vines, protecting them from the cold. Sprayed plants tolerate winter frosts better and are less susceptible to fungi and insects that can damage vines under cover.

Application for vineyards

Ferrous sulfate is applied in two ways: irrigation and root feeding. The fertilizer is applied as a complex, ensuring that plants receive all the necessary elements in addition to iron. Vineyard treatments are carried out not only in spring or late fall, but also in summer if the plants have suffered from fungal diseases.

Top dressing

Fruit yields depend on the availability of micronutrients from the soil. Iron sulfate plays a crucial role in vineyard cultivation. Its use stimulates chlorophyll production, which improves the accumulation of nutrients in plant tissue. As a result, vines become stronger and the number of fruit buds increases.

Iron deficiency in grapes is determined by the following signs:

1. Chlorosis, a disease caused by a disruption in chlorophyll production, develops. Pale leaves with green veins appear on the bushes.
2. The shoots grow slowly.
3. The grape clusters do not fill out even under favorable weather conditions.

Poor or alkaline soils contain insufficient iron. This beneficial element can be increased through fertilization. Ferrous sulfate is used as a fertilizer to prevent and treat chlorosis. When dissolved in water, it is easily absorbed by plants. You can saturate your plants with iron by spraying it on the foliage or by adding it to the soil.

For leaf chlorosis, use a 0.05% solution: mix 5 g of the preparation with 10 liters of water. Water the grapes twice a week. As the plants absorb iron, the leaves turn dark green. If the grapes were unripe last season, spraying them in early spring is recommended. To apply fertilizer to the bushes, prepare a nutrient mixture at a ratio of 100 g of iron sulfate per 10 kg of compost. This amount is sufficient for 1 m2. The fertilizer is applied by digging the soil.

Pest control

Fruit bushes can be infested with insect pests, including leaf rollers, grape pincushion moths, mealybugs, mites, phylloxera, cicadas, woodworms, and emerald vine borers. To destroy their colonies and eggs, treat the vineyard twice with a 5% ferrous sulfate solution. Allow at least 7 days between sprays. This treatment can destroy 40-50% of apple leafhopper eggs.

In temperate climates, grapevines are irrigated with a ferrous sulfate solution on April 10-20. If the treatment is applied quickly, insects hiding under the bark will remain unharmed. To determine the appropriate time for treatment, don't rely on the calendar; wait until the plants awaken. If the winter is prolonged, treatment should be postponed until late April. Preventative measures can be applied earlier, as soon as the buds swell.

Fighting diseases

Grapevines are most often affected by spotted necrosis, anthracnose, powdery mildew, and mildew. Pathogenic microorganisms develop in the bark, fallen leaf debris, or unharvested bunches. Although iron sulfate is not a specific fungicide, it is effective against fungi. It creates an acidic environment that is harmful to many microbes.

To destroy the pathogens causing gray mold and powdery mildew, use a 4-5% solution of iron sulfate, which is effective in combating fungal infections. The vineyard is being cultivated Twice, with a 14-day break. The concentrated solution effectively removes the disease from the bark surface. Plants should be treated at the first signs of damage. Otherwise, when winter arrives, the grapes will die.

How to get rid of lichens and mosses

If moss and lichens have appeared on the grapevines, spray the bushes in early spring with a 3% solution of ferrous sulfate. Only the lower part of the trunk, where the growths are concentrated, is treated. After two sprayings, two weeks apart, the parasites will fall off on their own. By midsummer, the bark will be completely restored.

A special solution will help get rid of lichens and mosses. To prepare it, you'll need an ash extract and a 5% ferrous sulfate solution. Apply this mixture to all affected areas. To prepare the extract, mix 1 cup of ash with 3 liters of boiling water, then add 7 liters of water after 3 days.

Treatment of wounds and disinfection of the vineyard

After a harsh winter, wounds may appear on the vine. If left untreated, infection will penetrate the wood and destroy it. In the spring, apply a solution of 100 g of ferrous sulfate to 1 liter of water to the cracks. After the mixture dries, a protective film forms over the damaged areas. This film is easily washed away by rain, so the treatment must be repeated periodically.

During the fruiting period, ferrous sulfate serves as a means of protection against infection, although the plants themselves are not treated with the solution. If there is a waste pit near the grapes, bacteria or fungi can get on grapesIt is recommended to soak the affected area with a 5-7% solution. Iron sulfate is an ideal disinfectant because it kills microbes.

Precautionary measures

Ferrous sulfate solution is non-toxic to humans. If it comes into contact with skin, it can be easily washed off with water. However, it is best to wear rubber gloves, goggles, and a respirator before treating plants. Store the powder away from food and out of the reach of children. It is important to know how to dilute ferrous sulfate so that it does not burn the green parts of the plant.

The use of ferrous sulfate requires compliance with the following rules:

1. Do not exceed the recommended solution concentration or application frequency. Overdosing can cause burns to plant tissue, as the product contains aggressive acids.
2. It is not advisable to spray plants during growth and fruiting.
3. When using iron sulfate for grapes during the growing season, a weakly concentrated solution must be prepared.
4. Use clean containers to mix the powder. Metal containers are not suitable.
5. The product must be stirred thoroughly so that the crystals are completely dissolved in water.

Reviews

Vladimir

When tending my vineyard, I use only ferrous sulfate. A 4% solution effectively controls diseases. I don't use it in the summer, as it can burn all the new growth. Fertilizers are effective against chlorosis. With regular use, the grapes remain disease-free and rarely suffer pest attacks.

Marina

While growing grapes, I used various pesticides and fungal protection products. I settled on ferrous sulfate. I liked that one product solved several problems at once: it cured fungal diseases and killed lichens. Using this product, you don't have to worry about your family's health.

Store shelves are filled with a plethora of new products that easily combat pests, fungi, and bacteria. However, ferrous sulfate remains popular with many gardeners. It is considered a universal remedy. Proper treatment of vineyards with ferrous sulfate solution ensures high yields and protection from pests and dangerous diseases.