The fungal disease late blight can ruin the long-awaited tomato harvest if you do not immediately take action. When there are no chemicals, the folk method will come to the rescue - treatment with iodine.
What is late blight
The pathogenic fungus Phytophthora spreads very rapidly by spores. It affects fruits and leaves. Its activity is manifested in a humid climate. Before that, the pathogen hides in the soil, it is able to withstand severe frosts. Signs of illness:
- leaves at the very beginning are covered with white bloom from below, then brown spots appear;
- inflorescences turn yellow, turn black, dry out;
- gradually the leaves darken, dry and fall off;
- stems and fruits in irregular brown spots;
- tomatoes rot;
- shoots in the rain become shiny, as if covered with an oil film.
The main cause of late blight is wet weather. The fungus appears if:
- bushes grow very densely;
- next to it is potatoes;
- day and night temperature fluctuations;
- there is a lot of dew on the plants in the morning;
- tomatoes lack manganese, copper, potassium, iodine;
- excess lime in the soil;
- the tomatoes were overfed with nitrogen.
Chemicals will help get rid of the disease, but they are toxic and accumulate in the fruit.
What is iodine used for?
Iodine solution is often used for treatment. It is suitable for feeding, disinfecting soil, seedlings, and for combating fungal diseases. Pharmacy product benefits:
- increases seed germination;
- helps the bushes to take root during transplantation;
- gives tomatoes a bright red color;
- promotes longer storage of fruits;
- fights late blight, powdery mildew.
You can use the drug for the prevention of fungal diseases.
Preparation of the solution
It is prepared from warm water, dairy products, iodine tincture. Breeding methods:
- mix 20 drops of iodine in 10 liters of water, add 1 liter of unpasteurized milk;
- Combine 1 ml of iodine tincture with 10 liters of water, 1 liter of whey, pour 20 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide;
- Mix 100 ml of fermented milk product (kefir, whey) with 1 liter of water, where 5 drops of tincture are dissolved;
- boric acid powder 5 g dissolve in 200 ml of water, mix with 1 liter of milk and 10 liters of water, add 20 drops of iodine;
- combine the same amount of water with 10 liters of serum, add 10 drops of iodine;
- pour into 10 liters of water 1 ml of tincture and 1 tbsp. l. potassium chloride;
- Dissolve 20 drops of iodine in 10 liters of water;
- insist in 2 liters of water 250 g of wood ash, add 10 liters of water and 10 drops of iodine - use for irrigation at the first stage of the disease.
For prevention:
- Mix 10 liters of water with 4-5 drops of iodine, add 1 liter of whey;
- 2 liters of hot water, 1 tsp. l. boric acid, mix everything and add water to 10 liters, pour 20 drops of iodine.
Top dressing:
- 5 drops of tincture, 1 liter of water;
- 4 drops of iodine, 12 liters of water.
Tomatoes are sprayed 2 times with an interval of 2 weeks, if they are indoors. In the open, it is treated again after 3 weeks.
With the help of a sprayer, the plants are sprayed onto the lower part of the leaf.
On the eve of treatment, the bushes around are watered with plain water.
Spray in the morning or evening, not in direct sunlight, without rain or strong winds.
At the same time, it is better to use water that is settled, without chlorine. The dose of iodine tincture cannot be exceeded, otherwise it will burn the leaves.
When spraying, you need to wear a respirator, gloves. The water temperature should be +25 degrees.
To strengthen the immunity of tomato seedlings, bottles with iodine are placed around the perimeter of the greenhouse.
Infusion of garlic, manganese solution, salts are also used for treatment against fungus, alternating with iodine solution.
Read also: Garlic has grown, what to plant in its place?
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