Treatment of grapes with iron sulfate in autumn and spring

Every winegrower wants to get a rich harvest of tasty and healthy grapes in the fall. The plant is not whimsical, but compliance with mandatory measures for caring for the crop will be the key to high yield.

One of the big risks is the possibility of infection of the bush with fungal diseases and rot. In order to protect the plant from unwanted pests, it is strongly recommended to spray and treat the grapes with special solutions several times a season. One of the favorite and effective methods is the treatment of grapes with iron sulfate. The substance has been used by gardeners around the world for many years and has proven its effectiveness. It is used as a panacea for all ills, safe for plants, humans and animals.

Iron sulfate in its chemical structure is salt crystals, which were obtained as a result of the interaction of sulfuric acid and divalent iron molecules. The turquoise-colored substance dissolves well in water. Iron sulfate for grapes is used not only to protect against pests and diseases, but also as a mineral fertilizer rich in iron.

Main actions of the drug

destroys lichens;
repels small insects;
kills pest larvae and their eggs;
does not allow the development of oidium, mildew, anthracnose, necrosis, cancer, cushion, powdery mildew and other fungal diseases;
has a disinfecting effect;
fights fungal infections;
heals wounds on trunks, restoring the structure of wood;
provides the soil with the necessary iron content;
improves the elasticity of the grapevine;
accelerates photosynthesis, increasing the green mass of the bush.

Iron chelate for grapes: instructions for use during autumn processing

Proper feeding in the fall is carried out closer to November. At this time, you need to carefully monitor the weather conditions; there should not be the first frosts yet. It is necessary to dilute the substance completely differently than in the spring.

To treat young plants, use a 3% vitriol solution. For 10 liters of water at room temperature there should be 0.3 kg of fertilizer.
Spraying of adult grapes, which have been bearing fruit for more than 1 year, is carried out with a solution of 5% vitriol. For 10 liters of water - 0.5 kg of substance.

All proportions must be strictly observed, otherwise the processing will have a detrimental effect on the condition of the crop.

Iron chelate for grapes

By spraying the plants in his garden plot, the gardener provides protection from pest attacks and the development of diseases. This happens due to the fact that after the composition dries, leaves, branches, etc. covered with a protective thin film. Thanks to this, the plant does not become infected with fungal and infectious pathologies.

Treatment with iron sulfate in the fall provides excellent protection from the cold in winter. The formed film warms the plant.

Important: plants treated with vitriol wake up several weeks later, this is normal.

Late bud opening is due to the presence of a film, which always forms after processing.

Choose a dry day without wind or precipitation;
Combine 500 g of copper sulfate with 15 liters of water;
Stir the solution until completely dissolved;
Pour the resulting preparation into the sprayer;
Wear waterproof clothing and shoes, gloves and a respirator to protect yourself from possible side effects of the substance.

Stages

Spring treatment is carried out before the first buds appear with the onset of stable positive temperatures in early spring. After removing the winter shelters from the bushes, they are ventilated for several days and sprayed. Treatment of grapes with iron copper sulfate occurs at a low concentration of the substance of 50 g per 10 liters of water. Spring spraying is carried out to protect against diseases, increase productivity and form large juicy berries.

Off-season treatment is carried out for the purpose of disease prevention, to protect and destroy insect larvae, as well as to control pests.
Autumn treatment is carried out at the end of the growing season, when the leaves have withered and fallen off for preventive purposes. Autumn spraying protects the bush from frost and the negative influence of weather conditions. It delays the development of buds until the onset of stable positive temperatures and facilitates the development of seedlings. In addition, it helps destroy eggs and larvae laid by pests.

Fertilizer preparation

Iron sulfate differs from copper sulfate not only in composition, but also in appearance. Visually these are green granules. In dry form, the product is dissolved in water. The concentration of the solution depends on the purpose of the drug. The most concentrated solution is prepared for autumn treatment against moss, lichen and harmful insects. Weak ones are suitable for root feeding, insecticidal spring treatment, wound healing and protection during frosts in order to delay the appearance of buds in the spring.

The solution of iron sulfate contains a high acid content, so exceeding the concentration will lead to burns of plant tissue and the outer layer. The drug is not compatible with phosphorus-based products. It is strictly forbidden to use iron sulfate simultaneously with copper sulfate.

Glass or plastic containers are suitable for preparing the solution. It is not recommended to use metal containers. A chemical reaction will reduce the effect of using the solution.

It is important to follow basic safety rules: use protective gloves and goggles.

What is the dosage of the drug?

Prepare a solution for spraying in advance in certain proportions, depending on the effect you want.
To get rid of chlorosis, take a concentration of 0.05%.
A 3% solution will save you from moss and lichens.
A 4-5% concentration will protect against fungal diseases.
If you are going to feed the plant with mineral fertilizers outside the root method, take a dosage of 0.1 to 0.2%.
To prepare the plant for winter, use proportions of 3 - 5%.

Common mistakes

When using iron sulfate, some novice gardeners ignore the rules for its use. As a result, the product causes harm to the culture instead of benefit. This not only negatively affects the yield of grapes, but can also cause its death.

Common mistakes:

Ignoring processing deadlines. Do not spray grapes with the product after bud break, during the flowering period. This causes burns.
If it is necessary to use the drug in the summer, apply the solution only to the affected areas of the vine.
Phosphorus-containing products and other plant protection preparations can be used only two weeks after treatment with iron sulfate.
It is necessary to strictly adhere to the dosage indicated in the instructions. Its excess harms the plant and weakens it, and a low concentration is useless.
It is necessary to spray grapes in the fall with the preparation only when removing plant residues from the soil, otherwise the procedure will not give the desired result.

Important! This drug does not have an expiration date, but is highly hygroscopic; it must be stored in a hermetically sealed container.

What else is spraying with vitriol used for?

Grapes can be treated with iron sulfate to protect and regenerate the trunks. To do this, the solution is mixed with lime, forming Bordeaux mixture. This whitewashing is usually carried out in the fall.
To combat ants in the spring, the trunks are whitewashed with iron sulfate. It will protect against insects and aphids for the entire season.
It is recommended to alternate the composition of the solution for treatment in spring and autumn. It is widely used in gardening when mixed with preparations containing copper and ferrous sulfate. Copper-based solutions are used in the spring, and iron is preferred in the fall. This alternation is carried out in order to protect the foliage from burns and prevent delayed development of the buds.
Grape growers sometimes use some tricks, using cuttings treated in a solution of copper sulfate for planting in open ground. In this case, the upper part is sprayed, thereby slowing down its development, and the untreated roots begin to actively take root and multiply.
The soil deprived of iron must be fertilized for planting. By diluting 1 - 2 g of the substance with 1 liter of water, a solution is obtained that is used to feed the soil. In case of iron deficiency, chlorosis can form, which is easily eliminated with a 0.5% solution.
Not only the soil, but also the plant can suffer from iron deficiency. This can be understood by the fact that the shoots develop poorly and slowly, the leaves crumble, turn yellow and become sick, and the clusters do not grow even under favorable weather conditions. Preventive spraying for such purposes should be carried out with a weak solution before the buds open and the first leaves appear.
Despite the versatility and complexity of the drug, copper sulfate does not help get rid of all troubles and diseases, but it can easily cope with most of them.
In addition to spraying vineyards, the solution can also be used to treat most fruit trees and flower crops. 3 - 4% concentrate perfectly treats apple trees, apricots, cherries, cherries, peaches, plums, pears. A 0.3% solution will protect roses from black spot for several years.
Disinfection with vitriol is carried out after cleaning the trunks of lichens, mosses and contaminants. The wood is processed carefully so as not to damage healthy areas. After treatment with sulfate, the trunks are bleached.
To destroy lichens and moss, you can whiten the trunk and branches with a 5% solution of vitriol mixed with ash. A glass of ash is poured into 3 liters of boiled water and waited for 3 days, after which it is filtered and 9 liters of water are added. The vineyard is treated with this mixture.
In the summer, a 10% solution is sprayed on the walls and wooden shelves in the cellar where the future harvest will be stored. This procedure is carried out to protect the place from the possibility of the development of fungal diseases and mold during the winter.
To speed up the process of photosynthesis, a chelate prepared at home was previously used. For a homemade solution, mix 3 liters of cold boiled water, a tablespoon of citric acid and two teaspoons of sulfate. Treating leaves with this solution stimulates their growth, development and provides a sufficient amount of nutrients. However, the procedure of spraying and watering with the mixture must be carried out immediately as the solution is prepared, until it loses its beneficial properties. The process is carried out every 10 days.

Following all the recommendations described above will help you grow strong and healthy bushes, which, in turn, will delight you with a rich harvest of healthy berries.

Processing process

Read the instructions on the packaging of the product, prepare a solution of the required concentration, and give it time to brew. Usually 20 minutes are enough for the excess particles to settle, after which the solution is mixed again. Lack of scales ¾ is not a problem. You can measure the required amount of granules with a regular tablespoon at the rate of half a tablespoon per 1 liter of water ¾ for a 2% solution.

Prepare the processing kit:

protective clothing and gloves;
respirator and glasses;
spray bottle or brushes.

To spray the leaves you will need a spray bottle with a powerful pump. This is important to prevent solution leakage during the process. Treatment begins after removing the affected branches and shoots. Spray the vines from top to bottom on a calm, clear day. On average, 10-15 liters of ready-made solution are used per 100 m2.

To disinfect plants, use a soft brush. With its help, damaged areas are delicately treated. Root feeding is carried out with the direct application of the prepared solution into the soil.

What it is?

Iron sulfate is a solution of ferrous sulfate. Ferric sulfate is odorless and consists of transparent bluish-green crystals. The substance differs:

good solubility in water;
low toxicity;
oxidation under the influence of air;
low degree of decomposition at high temperatures.

In industrial production, iron sulfate is obtained as a by-product when iron sheets or wires are etched with sulfuric acid to remove scale.

You can prepare the substance yourself by treating scrap iron with a dilute solution of sulfuric acid.

The use of iron sulfate is extensive. In addition to agriculture, it is necessary as a medicine for patients with iron deficiency anemia. It is also used for dyeing fabrics and producing ink.

Iron sulfate is produced in the form of crystalline powder, in bags weighing 150 grams.

Precautions, advantages and disadvantages

This odorless inorganic compound appears as small crystals of a turquoise hue that are highly soluble in water. The chemical composition contains 53% of the active substance (ferrous sulfate). Microfertilizer has the following advantages:

different purposes of use in the garden plot;
low cost;
composition harmless to human health.

Feeding

Obtaining a bountiful harvest depends on the supply of a sufficient amount of microelements to the root system of the plant. The main role in growing grapes is given to ferrous sulfate.

Against the background of ferrum (Fe) deficiency, vegetative processes are significantly inhibited, the growth of new shoots stops, the leaves curl and turn yellow. This phenomenon is observed when the soils on the site are poor. Alkaline soil does not contain enough iron, and only through additional fertilizing can the concentration of this element be increased. Fertilizer in a dissolved state is well absorbed by young plants.

The use of iron sulfate in viticulture is aimed at the active production of chlorophyll and the subsequent accumulation of nutrients. As a result, strong brushes grow and the number of ovaries increases.

Protection from diseases

Fruit bushes are susceptible to the negative influence of insects. After treating the trunks and branches, it is possible to destroy colonies of pests and laid eggs. This product helps fight the most common crop diseases: grape cushion, anthracnose, spotty necrosis (ink blight, dry rot), powdery mildew. Viral microorganisms multiply in the bark and feed on unharvested brushes and leaf debris.

Low-toxic iron sulfate creates an acidic environment to which bacteria are sensitive. The drug, which has fungicidal properties, is used in the treatment of chlorosis, lichen, and moss. Spraying with aqueous solutions is aimed at destroying rot from the bark of trunks.

The substance belongs to hazard class 3, i.e. low-risk for humans. Does not spontaneously ignite, does not explode. If it enters the human body in large quantities, general poisoning, upset of the digestive system and irritation of the skin and mucous membranes are observed. Urgent medical attention is required.

Irrigation must be carried out in calm weather, wearing personal protective equipment.

Can be stored in a hermetically sealed container for an unlimited amount of time. Once opened, it is advisable to use it as soon as possible and protect it from dampness.

Advantages of the drug:

Non-toxic to humans, plants and animals (in moderate doses).
Replenishes iron deficiency.
High effectiveness against fungi is noted.
Long shelf life.
Relatively low cost of the drug.

Despite the many advantages, the drug still has a small list of disadvantages.

If the concentration decreases, it does not produce results.
Processing time limits.
The formed film is easily washed off by rain.
An excessive concentration of the active substance can leave burns on plants.
Efficacy against viral and bacterial diseases is low.

Iron sulfate is a very effective microfertilizer, which is effective in the prevention and treatment of various diseases and pest attacks. Plants can be saturated by irrigation or added to the soil by digging in the fall and spring.

Iron sulfate is justifiably included in the list of the most popular drugs. When used correctly, it provides good and lasting results. Before use, be sure to read the instructions for use.

Why process grapes before covering?

Grapes are a common crop among gardeners. The consumption of grape berries in food is varied. They can be eaten fresh, made into jam, juices, compotes, and wines.

In order for the grapevine to survive the winter without loss and to bear fruit well in the fall, the grapevine must be treated with various fungicides and insecticides before covering for the winter.

It is also necessary to treat perennial shrubs so that the parasitic insects that have settled there die and do not spoil the vine. This is also a necessary event during which winegrowers get rid of or prevent the occurrence and spread of garden diseases.

During the fruiting period, the bush weakens and becomes vulnerable to pests and garden diseases. Autumn spraying using chemical ready-made mixtures and traditional methods helps grape bushes resist parasites and harmful microorganisms.

If the vine is not sprayed, this can lead to diseases of the grapes and the death of the perennial shrub.