Allotments 4 All

Last year for the first time ever my tomato crop failed. Ones in a polytunnel and in pots at home got blight, and also ones planted out at the allotment about a mile or so away.

So I have decided to spray this year. I rarely spray anything. So what do I use and at what point?

Bordeaux mixture, every time the weather looks like turning warm and wet.

Hello Robert.

What's a Bordeaux mixture? Do you make it up yourself or buy it over the counter?

Regards

Bluecar

Get it from a garden centre.

Thanks Robert.

Bluecar

Just be awarw that if it rains it washes off and has to be re done, if need be, over and over.

XX Jeannine

I bought some today. Sunday I had to pull up half a dozen Fantasio tomatoes that had been planted outside and were showing brown patches on the edges of their leaves. The greenhouse varieties are fine. In previous years Fantasio gave us a splendid outdoor crop. So tomorrow I will spray Bordeaux mixture for the first time. I'll do my allotment spuds too I think.

You can apply Bordeaux miture until the fruiting starts. It is made of copper salts - the leaves will go blue but that's OK :) It's an anti fungal for spuds, tomatoes, grapevines although I sometimes also put a little on my squash.

Thanks for that, rather tedious if the rain washes it off though with the current weather we have been having. Maybe I will stick to growing them indoors.

THe other big problem with bordeaux mix is tha tthings other than fungi don't like it.... the copper salts are bitter and worms hate it, it will drive them away and the more you use the more they will be driven deeper.... also the rest of it (most of it) is lime.... and potatoes don't like lime much..... Annoying that they withdrew Dithane.... yes, mancozeb not the nicest thing on the planet but if used properly you were looking at generally a single spray, maybe two to protect against blight.....