Step-by-step guide to treating tomatoes with metronidazole from late blight: fighting and preventing disease

Late blight is the scourge of tomatoes. This disease can completely destroy the crop. Vegetable growers use many means to combat its pathogen: from folk remedies to chemicals. Practice has shown that it is possible to save tomatoes with the help of an inexpensive pharmaceutical preparation - Metronidazole.

How effective is the treatment of tomatoes with "Metronidazole" from late blight, how often to use the drug for spraying and what nuances should be taken into account - you will learn all this from our article.

What is this drug

"Metronidazole" is an antibacterial drug used to treat many diseases... However, this tool has found application in the garden because of its pronounced antifungal properties.

The principle of action in the fight against late blight

The drug contains the active ingredient metronidazole... Coming into contact with late blight, it actively affects the DNA of the pathogen cell, slows down protein synthesis and the formation of nucleic acids, which leads to the termination of the reproduction of the fungus.

Differences from "Trichopol"

The drug "Trichopol" is an analogue of "Metronidazole", there are no special differences between them. It is also based on the active ingredient metronidazole. The dosage in these two preparations is also identical - 250 mg.

Trichopol is the trade name for the drug and Metronidazole is the international non-proprietary name. In fact, they are one and the same medicine, only under different names. There is no difference in which tablets to use in the garden.

Efficiency

"Metronidazole" destroys pathogenic fungi and bacteria, it is equally effective against most of the known strains. Keep in mind that fungal microorganisms have the ability to quickly adapt to drugs, so you cannot use the product regularly.

Important! The drug belongs to medicinal - it has contraindications and dosage.

"Metronidazole" is used in the treatment of such diseases:

• late blight;
• brown spotting;
• powdery mildew;
• alternaria;
• fusarium;
• anthracnose;
• rot - white, gray, dry;
• blackleg.

Pros and cons of using

Like any other drug, "Metronidazole" has a number of its strengths and weaknesses.

Benefits of the drug:

• high efficiency;
• affordable price;
• ease of use;
• lack of pesticides in the composition.

Disadvantages of "Metronidazole":

• the drug is not officially included in the list of products for the treatment of agricultural crops;
• promotes the development of pathogen resistance;
• the need to replace or search for combinations with other means;
• the effect of the substance on plants has not been studied;
• the hazard class for humans has not been established.

How to prepare treatment solution

It is very easy to prepare the right solution based on Metronidazole - it is enough to dissolve 20 tablets in 10 liters of water. Gardeners recommend first making a concentrate using warm water for dilution. As soon as the drug is dissolved, the volume is brought to the required 10 liters. The solution cannot be stored, it must be used on the day of preparation.

Solution preparation rules:

• the drug is diluted in water not lower than + 30 ° С;
• for rapid dissolution, tablets are crushed;
• the solution is ready to use in 30 minutes after preparation.

Important! An increase in the dosage of the drug can lead to the death of the plant.

Many vegetable growers combine the drug frombrilliant green or iodine - these tools make the processing more efficient. Metronidazole acts on the fungus, brilliant green heals and disinfects damage, iodine feeds the plant.

Thanks to these combinations, tomatoes receive double protection. First, a solution is prepared with "Metronidazole", then 1 bottle of pharmacy brilliant green or 15-20 drops of iodine is introduced into it.

How to process tomatoes with Metronidazole

You can treat tomatoes with the drug at the stage of sowing seeds. - this will protect the seedlings not only from late blight, but also other fungal diseases. To do this, the seeds are soaked for 30 minutes in the prepared solution, then they are dried and planted in a planting box.

Step-by-step instruction

The drug is most often used for spraying:

1. Prepare a solution.
2. Spraying is carried out in the first half of a dry, windless day.
3. For the procedure, a finely dispersed spray bottle is used.
4. Treat the stem and leaves on both sides, paying special attention to the lower branches.
5. Additionally, pour the seedlings under the root with a solution - 50 ml per bush.
6. If precipitation falls after spraying, the procedure must be repeated.

Important! When working with metronidazole, you must use personal protective equipment - a mask and gloves. It is not recommended to stay in the greenhouse for a long time after processing.

Timing and frequency of processing

Spraying with Metronidazole is carried out no more than 3 times a season:

• the first spraying after planting seedlings in the garden;
• the procedure is repeated 2 weeks before the start of the harvest;
• if there are no signs of disease, then there is no need for treatments.

Gardeners do not recommend using the drug for processing tomatoes 2 weeks before harvest... Despite the fact that the hazard class for the drug has not been established, it is better not to shorten the waiting period to protect health.

Application for prevention and treatment

"Metronidazole" is used not only for treatment, but also for prevention... It should be used by those who have already encountered diseases on their site last season.

Preventive measures begin even before planting seedlings... An undiluted drug tablet is added to each well. As soon as the plant is accepted, the treatment of the beds is carried out 1 time in 10 days. This solution is used: 5 tablets of water are dissolved in 10 liters of water. Spraying with the drug can be alternated with other drugs and folk remedies.

Important! In the garden, a dosage of 250 mg tablets is used.

At the first onset of late blight symptoms, treatment is carried out every day... A stronger solution is used - 20 tablets per 10 liters of water. You can spray a bush, apply a solution under a bush, or spot damage.

Reviews of vegetable growers

There is no unequivocal opinion of experts on whether it is worth using "Metronidazole" on the site... However, more and more gardeners, having tried this cheap drugstore, replace them with pesticides.

Irina, Armavir: “I heard from my friends about the action of“ Metronidazole ”against late blight. At first it was scary to use it on the site, because it is a "human" medicine. I decided to try it and was not disappointed. I am very pleased with the result - despite the rainy summer, late blight was not on the tomatoes. Next season I want to try to combine metronidazole with brilliant green. ".

Ruslan, Moscow region: “I process the beds with Metronidazole, add iodine to the solution - this is additional food for tomatoes. This season I want to try the treatment of seeds with the drug ".

Galina, Saratov: “The drug did not save my tomatoes from late blight. She planted tall varieties, regularly treated with a solution, repeated the procedure after rain. I had to uproot the bushes and burn them. The fungus must have adapted to the drug. ".

Conclusion

Metronidazole is a popular remedy against late blight. Many gardeners are convinced that the drug is able to stop and prevent the disease. It is important to take into account that the drug leads to the development of pathogen resistance, therefore from time to time it must be changed or combined with other agents.

Often, due to the resistance of fungi and bacteria, developed during preventive treatments, the crop suffers. Each gardener decides for himself whether to treat tomatoes with Metronidazole or not, taking into account the risk factors and the current state of the plants.