Saving tomatoes from phytophthora: folk remedies that will help you effectively fight the disease

Tomato late blight is an insidious disease that causes the Phytophthora fungus. The danger of infection is the lightning-fast spread of spores in warm and humid conditions. Fighting late blight requires a consistent approach and a combination of different methods.

In this article, we have prepared for you a list of effective folk remedies that allow you to get an environmentally friendly harvest. Let's talk about the methods of preventing infection of tomatoes in open and closed ground.

The danger of late blight

Phytophthora infestans is a zoospore-propagating fungus. Translated from Latin means “destroying plants”. The name speaks for itself, the mushroom completely destroys the plant tissues it enters. Causes disease - late blight. Most often, nightshades (potatoes, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes) are infected.

Spores spread quickly in high humidity conditions and can cause irreparable damage to farms. Symptoms of late blight appear in early July. During this period, the most favorable conditions for the reproduction of the fungus develop: high air humidity (above 75%), temperature fluctuations during the day and at night, abundant morning dew.

reference... In dry and hot weather, the development of the disease is suspended, and the spores themselves quickly die in the heat.

Signs of damage to tomatoes by late blight:

• dark brown spots on leaves, stems and fruits;
• white fluffy bloom on the back of the leaves;
• deformation of tomatoes.

The photo shows tomato leaves affected by late blight.

Rules for processing folk remedies

Traditional methods of treating late blight tomatoes require a special approach. Before spraying plantings, experienced farmers recommend testing this or that remedy on several bushes to determine the effectiveness of the effect.

Tomato processing rules from phytophthora with folk remedies in the open ground and in the greenhouse have some differences.

In the open field

Tomatoes growing in the open air are less likely to be infected with late blight in conditions of low humidity and high air temperatures. Infection occurs during a prolonged cold snap and torrential rains.

Treatment with folk remedies is carried out in dry and warm weather, in the evening, to prevent sunburn on the leaves. Means based on kefir or milk whey can be used even daily, they are absolutely safe for plants.

In the greenhouse

When growing tomatoes in greenhouse conditions, it is undesirable to use chemicals, since the crop is constantly ripening. In this case, it is recommended to pay attention to folk methods that are safer for human health, but no less effective.

Before irrigation, the bushes are carefully examined, the affected leaves, stems and fruits are removed. Initially, the plants are irrigated every three days. Then they switch to preventive treatment - once every 1.5-2 weeks.

Important! Funds containing copper are used only in extreme cases and singularly. The surplus accumulates in tomatoes.

The best folk remedies

It is possible to get rid of phytophthora and get environmentally friendly products only by using folk remedies.

Phytophthora quickly gets used to drugs, so you have to often experiment and combine compositions. What worked great last year may be completely useless next year. The fight against late blight with folk remedies will be successful if the proportions for the solutions are strictly observed.

Milk serum

Whey from sour milk is diluted in separated water in a 1: 1 ratio. Spraying is carried out every three days, starting in July.

Yeast

10 liters. water take 100 g of compressed yeast and completely dissolve. The tool is used from the moment the signs of late blight are detected.

Infusion of garlic and potassium permanganate

100 g of garlic cloves are chopped and poured in 250 ml. warm water. Insist for 24 hours, filter, bring the volume to 10 liters. and 1 g of potassium permanganate is added. Bushes are processed once every 10-14 days. Consumption per plant - 500 ml.

Infusion of horsetail

150 g of fresh or 100 g of dry raw materials are poured into 1 liter. water and simmer for half an hour. Then add 5 l. water and cooled to room temperature. Used to treat bushes once every 1.5-2 weeks.

Saline solution

One faceted glass of rock salt is dissolved in 10 liters of water. It is used for preventive treatment of plants, after removing the affected foliage, stems and fruits.

Soda

Dissolve 1 tbsp in 5 liters of water. l., soda, 1 tsp., liquid soap and add 3 tbsp. l., vegetable oil. The ready-made solution is used to spray the bushes once a week.

Milk and iodine

For 10 liters of water, take 1 liter of low-fat milk, add 20 drops of iodine. The bushes are processed once every 14 days. The tool not only effectively fights late blight, but also promotes the growth of green mass.

Copper sulfate

Dilute 50 g with a crystal in a glass of water and bring the volume to 5 l. It is advisable to use the tool during the day, since the solution is not subject to long-term storage. A fresh batch is prepared before each processing.

Copper sulfate used in several stages:

1. The first treatment is carried out before sowing seeds. The soil is moistened with a solution of 3% (30 g per 1 liter of water) using a spray bottle once.
2. The second treatment is carried out before picking the seedlings into separate containers. 24 hours before transplanting, the soil is moistened with a solution of 1% (10 g per 1 liter).
3. The third treatment with a 1% solution is carried out when transferring seedlings to the ground. Consumption per hole - 1 liter.
4. Quadruple processing is carried out at the stage of tomato formation. The green mass is irrigated with 0.5% (5 g per 1 l) liquid.

Boric acid

Dissolve 10 g in 10 liters of hot water boric acid and 30 drops of iodine are added. The bushes are processed every two weeks.

Wood ash

For 10 g of water, take half a bucket of ash. Stir thoroughly and leave for three days. Then add 50 g of shavings of laundry soap and mix again. The solution is used three times: after planting seedlings in the ground, before flowering, after the formation of ovaries.

Infusion of rotten hay

For 10 liters of water take 1 kilogram of hay, a handful of urea and insist for three days. Then the infusion is filtered and used to irrigate the bushes once every 10-14 days.

Kefir

1 liter of low-fat kefir is left in a warm room for 48 hours. The fermented fermented milk product is diluted in 10 liters of water and used to treat bushes once every 14 days, after planting the seedlings in the ground. If the summer is wet, processing is carried out every week.

Copper wire

Copper has a strengthening effect on plants, protects against late blight infection. In practice, the thinnest wire is used. The material is cut into pieces 3-4 cm long and the stem is pierced at the very bottom. Adult plants with a strengthened stem are subjected to this treatment. To prevent injury and stunted growth, wire should not be wound around the bushes.

Tinder fungus

The dry mushroom is twisted in a meat grinder or finely chopped with a sharp knife, poured with boiling water (100 g of tinder fungus per 10 liters of water). Cover the container and leave to infuse.After cooling, the liquid is filtered and used to treat the bushes once every 1.5 weeks.

Processing frequency

Folk remedies are most effective when used as a prophylaxis, until plants are infected with late blight. The first treatment is recommended to be carried out before the appearance of ovaries with a frequency of up to three times a week. Preventive spraying is carried out once every 1.5-2 weeks.

Advice... Alternate with folk remedies for best results.

Preventive measures

To prevent the spread of phytophthora spores and protect tomatoes, it is recommended to follow preventive measures:

1. Autumn processing of greenhouses with sulfur checkers.
2. Spring disinfection of soil with copper sulfate.
3. Controlling soil nitrogen levels and restoring natural balance with peat and coarse sand.
4. Moderate watering.
5. Frequent loosening of the soil.
6. Stealing and thinning.
7. Mulching the soil with sawdust and pine needles.
8. Airing greenhouses.
9. Shelter of beds in open ground with spunbond (agrofibre made of environmentally friendly polypropylene).
10. Timely introduction of potassium-phosphorus dressings.
11. Compliance with the principles of crop rotation (the best predecessors of tomatoes are white cabbage and cauliflower, zucchini, legumes, pumpkin, onions).
12. Soaking seeds collected by hand in a solution of "Fitosporin" or "Phytodoctor".
13. Treatment of wells for seedlings with boiling water or a hot solution of potassium permanganate.

Farmers Tips

We recommend using the recommendations of experienced farmers to combat late blight:

1. Provide dry air and moderate watering in the greenhouse.
2. After planting seedlings, mulch the soil with sawdust, pine needles or peat.
3. Keep vents and doors open for pass-through construction.
4. Water the bushes strictly at the root.
5. Prevent condensation from accumulating on the greenhouse walls.
6. Water the bushes in the evening with warm, settled water.
7. Do not water in overcast, wet weather.
8. Choose the most resistant to late blight hybrids and varieties.
9. Pay attention to tomatoes with an early ripening period and amicable fruit return. They simply do not have time to become infected with late blight.
10. Immediately remove and burn affected stems, leaves and fruits, disinfect the instrument.
11. Monitor the nitrogen level in the soil. An excess of it contributes to infection.
12. Try not to plant tomatoes in the same spot every year. Areas where potatoes, peppers and eggplants were grown are not suitable for planting.
13. To re-plant tomatoes in the greenhouse, sow beans, peas, and lentils in the fall.

Read also:

Will brilliant green for tomatoes help from late blight and how to use it correctly.

How and what to process tomatoes from late blight in a greenhouse.

Conclusion

Infection of tomatoes with late blight is easier to prevent than to fight it. The main condition is compliance with the rules for planting seedlings and caring for them. Preventive measures will minimize the harmful effects of the fungus and preserve the harvest.

Folk remedies, with proper use and adherence to the rules for preparing solutions, have no less effective effect than chemical preparations. The combination of various formulations and alternating treatments with garlic, milk, salt, herbal infusions with boric acid and copper sulfate will help to cope with the misfortune.