How to treat currants in the fall against pests and diseases

Autumn is the most suitable period for preparing currants for winter. Gardeners will have to perform several procedures: protect the berry crop from insects and diseases, trim the bushes and apply fertilizer to the garden bed. How to treat currants in the fall against pests and diseases, what fertilizer to choose for the soil, what is better, folk remedies or store-bought ones? Let's look at each problem in detail.

Deadlines

Carry out autumn treatment of currants against pests and diseases in late September - early October. By this time, the fruit harvest is completed, the bushes are pruned. If you are growing a red variety of berries, wait until the leaves fall off on their own before processing. You can remove the leaves from black currants manually.

Weather conditions on a sanitary day are no less important. Choose a time when it is not very cold and dry outside. If you treat currants in the rain, the preventative agents will be washed off with water, the procedure will be absolutely useless.

We protect from pests

Plant protection should begin as soon as the last berry has been picked. To prevent possible problems, you can use copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture as a preventative measure. The soil and soil between the rows should be fertilized.

Many experts recommend not waiting until the fall, but starting treatment at the first signs of damage, even if problems appeared in early spring.

Prevention should be carried out several times every week.

Urea solution

Experienced gardeners use a urea solution for protection. This substance has proven itself well in the prevention of fungi, insects and larvae.

There are a few simple rules that will help you successfully overcome insect attacks:

At the time of planting, choose only those varieties that are resistant to disease;
If you notice the first signs of damage, do not be afraid to use drugs that will protect the plant from pests;
If you want to get the maximum effect, it is recommended to spray the planted crop in dry weather.

It is also important to protect yourself during processing; use protective equipment for this.

Autumn processing

Step-by-step treatment of currants in the fall from pests and diseases involves several agricultural procedures. This is the prevention of crop infection by diseases and the treatment of already infected units. If care is timely, regular and correct, then bushes of fragrant berries are easily protected from such troubles as:

Powdery mildew;
Septoria (white spot);
Rust;
Striped mosaic;
Gray rot;
Sawfly;
Aphid;
Spider mite;
Whitefly;
Leaf roller;
Fire butterfly;
Glassware.

For each type of parasites, infectious, fungal diseases, specific agents and chemicals are selected.

Insecticides for pests

They affect larvae and adults by contact (by contact) and aerial methods (through inhalation of toxic vapors of a chemical agent).

For autumn treatment of currants, use the following insecticides:

Karbofos. Removes aphids, bud moths, scale insects, and ticks from the ground. Available in tablets, powder, emulsion, granules. For spraying, prepare the following solution: mix 75 g of the product with a bucket of water. For 1 bush you will need at least 1.5 liters of the prepared mixture.
Commander. A systemic insecticide used against a wide range of insects and pests.
Confidor. Effective against beetles and aphids. Does not accumulate in the root system or soil. The mixture for spraying is prepared in the following proportions: 5 ml of product per 6-7 liters of water.
Actellik. Developed on the basis of pirimiphos-methyl. It enters the body of pests and disrupts the functionality of all their life systems. It works very quickly. To spray currants you need the following solution: 2 ml of product per 1.5 liters of water.
Urea (urea). Effectively fights copperhead and aphids. Increases the yield of berry crops if used as a fertilizer. To spray bushes, 50-70 g of urea are diluted in 1 liter of water.

Insecticides for currant treatment

On a note! To avoid pest resistance (addiction), periodically change the chemicals used to treat all types of plants in the garden.

Fungicides for fungal diseases

Fungicides are special chemicals used to control fungi. Among the effective preparations for treating currants in the fall against pests and diseases are the following:

Copper sulfate. The active metal actively affects pathogenic microorganisms immediately after entering the soil. Most effective during the active infection phase. Considered universal. Used for spraying shrubs, less often for watering. To irrigate the crop, you need to take 100 g of vitriol and dilute it in 10 liters of water.
Burgundy liquid. Multifunctional tool. Suitable for the treatment and prevention of fungal diseases, at the same time fertilizes currant bushes with calcium. For autumn processing, you will need to dilute 40 g of dry matter in 10 liters of water. Actively spray the bushes with the resulting liquid.
Bordeaux liquid. It is a mixture of copper sulfate and slaked lime. A 1% solution is suitable for caring for currants. The drug is effective in combating mold, gray mold, powdery mildew, rust, and spotting. The protective effect of Bordeaux mixture lasts 2 weeks, so shrubs infected with an unpleasant disease are treated twice: in autumn and spring. The dry substance for spraying is diluted in proportions of 40 g per 10 liters of water.
Topaz. An economical and effective drug against powdery mildew. To prepare a bucket of solution you need 2 ml of product. It is important to treat all bushes, even if only one is sick. It is better to use at temperatures not lower than +4°C. Be sure to irrigate the bushes, the ground underneath them, and the fence if the bed is located directly next to the fence.
Inkstone. It is actively used for caring for currants in the fall, if there is a risk of aphids, spider mites, sawflies, and moths settling in the garden bed with bushes. To prevent diseases, use a 1% solution, for treatment - 2.5%.

Fungicides for currant treatment
Watch a video about autumn treatment of currants from diseases and pests:

On a note! Copper sulfate should not be overused. It is poisonous to animals, plants and insects. If the concentration of the drug is exceeded, it leads to burns of the trunks and leaves of the berry crop.

Biological drugs

Proper treatment of currant bushes in the fall from pests and diseases using chemicals does not harm the berries and the garden as a whole. But many gardeners prefer to use biological agents as protection against harm. They contain living microorganisms.

All environmental products are divided into two types:

To combat fungi - biofungicides.
For poisoning insects - biosencticides, biocaricides, bioinsectoacaricides.

According to the advice of experienced gardeners, processing currants in the fall for winter will be more effective using the following environmental products:

Actofit: used for the prevention of aphids and mites.
Phytofer: fights aphids, leaf rollers, mites.
Fitoverm: effective against felt mites, spider mites, and sawflies.
Bitoxibacillin: kills adult insects and larvae by disrupting their intestinal functions.
Fitosporin: helps in the treatment and prevention of rust and powdery mildew.

The effect of using biological products for berry crops occurs quickly, after 5-7 hours. The total duration of the beneficial effect is about 20 days. At the same time, the bushes, soil and environment do not suffer from harmful chemicals.

Expert advice

When caring for currants, it would be appropriate to use some tips:

Before spraying currants in the fall for preventive purposes, you need to carefully inspect them for damage or damage to parts. If damage is found, it is important to remove the green parts from the bush and then destroy it.
Carrying out chemical treatment, of course, will help protect against various pests, but it will also not be superfluous to carry out nutritional feeding; it will help restore and improve the immunity of adult shrubs.
It is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of currant bushes: the crop should not be allowed to develop a lesion called terry, as it is considered completely incurable.

Folk remedies

Currant processing in the fall can also be done using the same means that our grandmothers used. They were prepared without the use of harmful chemicals, which is important for the safety of the person who will later eat the fruits from the sprayed bushes.

Among the numerous folk recipes for treating currants against parasites and diseases, the following are considered the most effective:

Garlic tincture An unpleasant, pungent odor repels insects, preventing them from reproducing and growing colonies. To prepare the solution, you need to crush 2 heads of garlic, add 1 liter of water at room temperature and leave in a jar with a lid for 7 days. Before use, dissolve 0.5 liters of the product in a bucket of water and spray the bushes.
A decoction of wood ash will help with signs of powdery mildew. Take 400 g of ash, pour it into a bucket of water and boil it. Let it brew for a day and use it to spray currants.
Celandine Kills aphids and moths. Place dry celandine grass (3 kg) in a bucket and fill with water. Leave for 2 days. Strain the mixture and use to irrigate the bushes from roots to tops.
Laundry or tar soap The advantage of this product is its unpleasant odor. Insects avoid inhaling it, get scared and leave the inhabited area. Soap medicine is absolutely safe for plants. Prepare the solution as follows: grate a tar block on a fine grater and pour boiling water over it. Dissolve thoroughly and you can use. To enhance the effect, add mustard to the water (2-3 tablespoons per 10 liters).
Onion A fragrant vegetable that rids currants of butterflies, aphids and mites. You need to prepare medicine only from the husk. Take 200 g of dry onion peel and pour boiling water (10 l). Leave for several hours or overnight. Treat the root part of the crop and shoots with the product. Pour the remaining solution into the soil, under the roots.
Tobacco dust A foul-smelling product repels all pests. Buy tobacco dust at the store or prepare it from shag leaves: dry and grind. Then pour 400 g of the product into a bucket of warm water and leave for a day. Use the prepared infusion for a short time, otherwise the medicine will lose its beneficial properties. Tobacco dust can be used twice: in early spring and before winter.

Folk remedies act on insects and plants slowly, so you should not expect instant results. But after using ash, soap, onions, and garlic, your garden will definitely be safe.

Prevention

Currants are a vulnerable crop, often affected by fungal diseases, infections, and destroyed by insects. Preventive measures help keep the berry crop healthy and strong, and this guarantees a rich harvest. The list of necessary procedures looks like this:

Pruning bushes in autumn;
Renewal of seedlings every 4-6 years;
Plant staking;
Mulching the soil, loosening;
Fertilization with fertilizers;
Treating bushes against parasites and diseases at least 2 times a year: in spring and autumn;
Periodic inspection of bushes for timely detection of possible diseases;
Thorough cleaning of the area, burning of fallen leaves.

On a note! You should also be careful about the garden tools used for pruning shrubs. Before use, wipe scissors and pruning shears with alcohol.

Feeding and fertilizing

Thanks to fertilizing the soil under currant bushes and fertilizing, the berry crop becomes more resistant to infections and parasites. In autumn, saturate the soil with the following mineral and organic elements:

Phosphorus and potassium. Place 1 tbsp under the bushes. chlorine-free potassium and superphosphate. Then water the bed with warm water. It is correct to carry out such agricultural procedures once every 2 years.
Saltpeter. You can feed currants with saltpeter in the fall only in late August - early September. Apply 15 g per 1 m², without exceeding the dose, so as not to burn the root system of the shrubs.
Manure. It needs to be added to the soil once every 3-5 years. Mullein retains moisture in the soil and activates photosynthesis. For 1 bush you will need 10 liters of rotted manure diluted with 10 liters of water.
Compost. Prepare in advance by throwing leaves and grass into the hole. Mulch the soil under the bushes no earlier than November, since this fertilizer will take 2-4 months to decompose.

Gardeners usually get organic matter for free, so in the fall you can spend a little on complex store-bought fertilizers. The preparation “Autumn” is well suited for currants. It is diluted with water according to the instructions and watered the bed with seedlings.

Features of caring for different varieties of currants

There are different varieties of currants, although the most popular are the red and black varieties. Basically, caring for them in the autumn involves the same manipulations, but some features can be identified depending on the varietal of the plant.

Caring for red currants

Shrubs require proper care, taking into account the following rules:

Plant the plant in early autumn so that it takes root completely in winter. To do this, prepare the hole in advance so that the soil settles and the fertilizers are absorbed. After planting, compact the soil around the bush, water and mulch. Trim the seedlings, leaving a pair of buds on the shoot.
At the end of September or at the beginning of October, in the absence of the required amount of precipitation, moisten the areas around the bushes.
Feed the plant with organic and mineral fertilizers: for each bush, add 10-12 kg of compost or rotted manure, as well as 100 g of superphosphate and 50 g of potassium chloride. Dig up the area so that the fertilizer penetrates deep into the soil.
In late autumn, at the end of the fruiting period and the onset of the dormant stage, carry out sanitary pruning - remove broken, damaged, dried and deformed branches.

Red currant shoots bear fruit longer than black currants, so they do not require frequent rejuvenating pruning.

Blackcurrant care

In autumn, when caring for black currants, special attention should be paid to the following rules:

After harvesting, feed the bush with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers to form future buds. For successful wintering, you should definitely add superphosphate and potassium chloride. It is better to apply fertilizer in liquid form when watering the plant.
Remove affected branches and branches growing inside the bush. In addition, to prepare the bush for winter, complete sanitary pruning should be carried out. At the same time, it is advisable to carry out preventive treatment against diseases and pests by spraying the bushes with Karbofos and Bordeaux mixture.
At the end of August, pinch out the shoots to reduce the risk of powdery mildew developing in the fall.
Remove fallen leaves from the area, sprinkle the currant bushes with fertile soil or compost and lightly sprinkle with wood ash. In dry weather, moisten the soil by watering the bushes abundantly.
Tie the spreading bushes and support them on a wooden frame, which is installed around the perimeter of the bushes.

Autumn is also the best time for blackcurrant rooting. So, at the end of September it is worth planting cuttings so that they have time to adapt and prepare for winter. Young growth does not require feeding or pruning, since these manipulations are carried out during the planting process.

Watch a video about preparing blackcurrants for winter:

Trimming

When pruning currant bushes in autumn, be sure to get rid of:

Young shoots that greatly thicken the bed.
Barren branches.
Sick and withered branches. Remove them at the root and burn the cuttings.
Thin, weakened shoots.

You need to cut the branches with perfectly even scissors, starting from the center of the bush. You cannot remove too many shoots at one time, as this will greatly weaken the culture. Make the cuts above the outer bud (1 cm). Prescribe the sanitary procedure for October-November, before the first frost.

You need to take care of the berry crop regularly; it does not tolerate neglect. Knowing how to process currants in the fall, and applying the information received in practice, you can provide yourself and your family with a rich harvest of berries in the summer, and make a variety of desserts for the winter.