Autumn plant protection activities in the vegetable garden

In September, conditions are created for the formation of abundant dew, which causes infections of late tomatoes with late blight and of carrots, winter garlic and onions with powdery mildew. It is time for the vegetable seedlings to be disinfected.

Late tomatoes suffer from late blight in wet weather, and from powdery mildew in dry weather. They are sprayed with products approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Control of moths, cutworms and caterpillars of various cabbage butterfly species with pyrethroids continues.

Carrots are treated at the appearance of the first spots of powdery mildew.

The cloves of winter garlic and the bulbs of onions for green production are soaked for 20 minutes before planting in a 0.2% working solution of Topsin M 70 WG or Top Plus 70 WP.

The soil intended for growing vegetable seedlings is disinfected with Basamid granulate 980 g/kg at a rate of 4-5 g/sq. m. Five days before its application, the soil is thoroughly moistened. The product is spread evenly over the soil surface using rubber gloves, then immediately mixed into the soil by incorporation and covered with polyethylene. After 4-5 days the cover is removed, the soil is left uncovered for 2-3 days and then dug over. After 20-25 days it is gathered into a heap and left to mature during the winter months.

For tobacco seedlings the rate is 10-20 g/sq. m – 10-15 days before sowing, with incorporation, and then covered with polyethylene.

According to the Plant Protection Act, farmers are obliged to use only plant protection products authorized for use for the respective crop and pest, and at the corresponding rate.

Plant protection products authorized for placing on the market are published on the website of the BFSA at the electronic address: http://www.babh.government.bg/ or in the “List of plant protection products authorized for placing on the market and use” 2019.

Plant protection products shall be purchased only from commercial companies holding an authorization!

Attention! When working with plant protection products, all requirements for occupational safety, protection of bee colonies from poisoning and protection of the environment from pollution must be observed!