Features of using Fitoverm to protect cucumbers

Fitoverm is a biological insecticide that has no adverse effects on humans, the environment, or plants, but only when used according to instructions. The product is used in open beds and greenhouses. Unlike chemicals, it can be used on garden and vegetable crops during flowering and fruiting periods. Fitoverm for cucumbers: purpose, instructions, and reviews.

Description and purpose

The product does not contain harmful chemicals. Its main active ingredient, avermectin C, is of natural origin (a mixture of avermectins produced by the fungus Streptomyces avermitilis). It has several properties: acaricidal, nematicidal, and insecticidal, helping to quickly eliminate mites, aphids, and thrips.

The substance has a contact and intestinal effect, entering the body through external organs during treatment or during feeding (when the pest sucks sap, chews through the tissue of leaves, stems, etc.). Fitoverm affects the nervous system, causing complete paralysis, with death occurring within 24 hours. Experiments at the All-Russian Research Institute have shown that the product provides over 95% protection against sucking insects and mites. Key benefits:

• Aversectin decomposes in the soil within 25–48 hours, does not penetrate plant roots and does not harm beneficial soil microflora;
• the crop can be harvested 2 days after spraying;
• Fitoverm gives good results even in hot weather; when the temperature drops to 17°C, toxicity to pests decreases, and when it warms up to 25–32°C, it increases;
• the effect of the substance on pests becomes noticeable 7 hours after treating cucumbers in open beds and 10 hours after treating them in closed beds;
• protection lasts for 2-3 weeks;
• the drug does not cause addiction in sucking insects, ticks, and does not accumulate in fruits, stems, and leaves;
• Fitoverm can be mixed with chemical pyrethroid or neonicotinoid insecticides. The bioinsecticide works well with Fitolavin (a pest and disease control mixture);
• The product sticks to the paws of pests, thus reaching the areas where they congregate.

The product also has its drawbacks: it can't be used in rainy weather, as the substance washes off quickly. The insecticide only affects adult cucumbers; larvae, eggs, and pupae remain on cucumber plants and in the soil. In greenhouses, the insecticide works more slowly, and mites and sucking insects die within a week of application. The substance decomposes when exposed to oxygen and ultraviolet rays.

Solutions for controlling cucumber pests

The correct dosage of Fitoverm helps quickly eliminate pests and reduce the likelihood of recurrence after treatment. Good results can only be achieved by following the instructions. Exceeding the dosage will cause burns on the foliage, and weak solutions will not produce the desired effect. Recipes for pest control mixtures and preventative cucumber sprays vary.

Various manufacturers produce the product in 2, 4, and 5 ml ampoules, as well as in 20 ml vials (aversectin concentration C 2 g/L). The solution preparation process varies depending on the recipe, but the general principle is the same: add Fitoverm to half the recommended dose of water, mix thoroughly, bring the solution to the maximum volume, and use immediately. Dosages and spraying frequencies are described in the table.

For better adhesion, you can add a teaspoon of liquid soap without dyes and fragrances to the solution. To treat the seedlings cucumbers from spider mite Dilute 2 ml of Fitoverm in 200 ml of water. For pest prevention, 2 ml of the product per 1 liter of water is sufficient; 4–5 treatments should be carried out per season. Working solutions against any pests should not be stored, even in a tightly sealed container.

When using Fitoverm with other products, it's best to alternate treatments. Spray cucumbers with one insecticide on the first day, then switch to the other the next. To determine compatibility, mix the products in a transparent glass container and let them sit for a couple of hours. Even a slight, barely noticeable sediment at the bottom of the container will indicate that the products should not be mixed or alternated.

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Processing cucumbers in open and closed ground

Fitosporin It should only be applied in the evening, when the air temperature rises above 10–12°C. Spraying should be done in calm, dry weather, preferably without rain for 3–7 days after the procedure; otherwise, the treatment will need to be repeated. Fitoverm is harmful to bees, so it is best not to use it during the early flowering period of cucumbers.

Apply the product thoroughly with a fine mist sprayer, wetting the entire plant, covering both sides of the leaf blades, and preferably irrigating the soil. In greenhouses, hotbeds, and open spaces, use only protective clothing, goggles, and a respirator. Keep children and pets away. Fitoverm should not be used near bodies of water or hives.

Despite its significant drawbacks, Fitoverm is considered one of the best products for protecting cucumbers from aphids, mites, and thrips. If you follow the instructions and apply the product in calm, dry weather, the pests will disappear after just two sprays. The product poses no serious danger to humans, but if it gets into your eyes, rinse them thoroughly with plenty of water. If the product is ingested, induce vomiting and take activated charcoal (1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight). After spraying, wash your clothes and garden tools.

Reviews

Natalia

I used to use Fitoverm only for indoor plants; for some reason, I thought it was ineffective for the garden. Two seasons ago, my cucumbers were attacked by spider mites. The situation was so bad I thought I'd throw the plants away. My husband insisted on using Fitoverm; I had practically nothing to lose. The results were surprising: after three treatments, the mites were gone, and the cucumbers quickly recovered, but they couldn't do without generous organic fertilizers. Now I realize the effect was so good because of the favorable, hot weather. My only complaints are that Fitoverm is expensive and has an unpleasant odor.

Makar

I regularly perform preventative spraying; I'm at my dacha once a week; I don't want to lose the harvest. Fitoverm lasts for three weeks, but only in dry, warm weather, so it's not always possible to protect the cucumbers, and I don't like chemicals. I also use Fitoverm to control aphids and thrips (in both the greenhouse and the open-air garden). I value its fast action, but you need to be aware of insect development patterns and watch for the moment when the eggs or larvae hatch into adults. After treating the cucumbers for aphids, there were no more Colorado potato beetles on the potatoes; apparently, some of the solution got on the tops—a nice bonus!