Bouille Bordelaise (BB)

[seb47]

My neighbour says he is spraying his tomato plants with BB. I'm worried about doing this as mine are mostly in flower and some are even starting to fruit - I thought you shouldn't spray when there are flowers or fruit. Also, as most people in south west know, there's a load of rain around at the moment - wouldn't it just wash off? Similarly, I've thought about spraying the grapes but they too are beginning to form fruits. Any views gratefully received.

Thanks, Sue.

 

[Cassis]

Says on my packet of BB to treat tomatoes every 20 days after planting out and stop a week before you pick.  I suppose the same would apply to grapes in terms of when to stop.  But with tomatoes where you have a long cropping period you'll have to stop long before the last trusses are even in flower, so its effectiveness will be limited.  Unless you like copper-flavoured fruit and veg.

I didn't bother spraying preventively last year and had very little blight.  I'm going to do the same this year and see what happens as I really don't like spraying anything unless absolutely necessary.

One way to reduce the danger of potato blight in tomatoes is to remove the lower leaves - they usually catch it due to fungal spores being splashed up onto the lower leaves. 

Hopefully they aren't planted where there were tomatoes or potatoes planted last year - planting the same crop, or crop family, in the same spot tends to encourage build-up of associated diseases.

Phil

[Suze01]

Ages ago, I remember seeing something about using a thin piece of copper wire pushed horizontally through the stem of the tomato plant near the base to prevent blight.  Not tried it though so I don't know how efective it is, or if it is detrimental to the plant.

[seb47]

Thanks Phil and Suze,

I think I'm going to risk it without the spray as I am looking after the plants and have removed lower leaves - and I don't fancy blue tomato plants. I can't believe it but the Marmande have 2cm fruits on already! My potatoes are nowhere near the tomatoes and never the twain shall meet. As for the copper wire Suze, I think I might just run out of gardening energy there!

Happy gardening folks - (or slug patrol at the moment - it's costing him at home a fortune in beer at the moment!).

Sue.

[Tony F Dordogne]

We're using copper tape to ward off slugs at the moment, bought in the UK from the Centre for Alternative Technology.  Working on the hosta and cut/come again pot a treat.

Only down side is that it's cut through for ease of tearing, teeth like and it's razor sharp - probably slash any passing slugs or snails to death.

[seb47]

Thanks Tony - I've got the e-mail address and as we will be in UK next week, I'll order and hope for a quick delivery (assuming it doesn't cost more than the tomatoes!).

Sue

[Cassis]

Another option is to buy a small copper sheet (available from all good DIY stores near you!) and cut it into strips with tin snips or stout scissors.  It is a very easy job. If you have a number of pots to do it works out cheaper, even if you have to buy some tin snips.  You can also make a series of cuts part way across the strips, all along their length, and curve the copper over to make a physical and decorative 'frilly' barrier before you wrap it around your pots.

Phil