Prestige - why should it be used to control pests on nightshade crops? Composition - description of active ingredients, duration of effect on Colorado potato beetles. The degree of toxicity of the drug, danger to people and animals. Safety rules at work.
The Colorado potato beetle is considered one of the most dangerous pests of vegetable gardens, and especially potatoes. When settling on nightshade plants, adult representatives of the insect and larvae destroy the plantings, rendering the crop unfit for cultivation and use. Among the effective remedies at the moment we can note the drug Prestige for the Colorado potato beetle and wireworm.
In addition, it is possible to protect the planting from infections and reduce the impact of negative environmental factors on plant development. If you strictly follow the instructions and the correct dosage, the treatment will be easy, and the first results will be noticeable almost immediately.
Purpose, composition
Prestige is a popular drug among farmers and gardeners, which can be explained by the high level of effectiveness of use.
If we talk about active ingredients, the composition includes:
- Pentsikuron is a component belonging to the group of pesticides, its main purpose is to protect crops from fungal infections and mold.
- Imidacloprid is an insecticidal ingredient that has an enteric contact effect. The drug affects the organs of the parasite, the central nervous system, thereby blocking the work and the possibility of transmitting impulses. The result is paralysis and death of pests.
The presented components are a set of unique and useful properties representing the drug Prestige, namely:
- Insecticidal – providing a protective factor against the possibility of damage to vegetation by pests;
- Fungicidal - ensuring an increase in the general immunity of plantings, the level of resistance to the development of fungal infections;
- Anti-stress.
Biological products
The products are considered safe for humans when used correctly. Used to spray the green part of the plant. The result is noticeable within a week. Biological drugs have a maximum effect of 14 days. Heavy rains reduce the effectiveness. Preparations are produced in the form of powder and compressed tablets. Before use, the contents of the sachet should be poured into cold water.
Biological products against Colorado potato beetles
The active ingredients are natural insecticides; the composition does not contain a dangerous compound for humans. They enter the body of insects by contact, when sucking juices from leaves. Death occurs after a few days, as the poison accumulates in the body. The mechanism of action is identical to insecticides - they disrupt the functioning of the nervous system.
Among the effective biological products are:
- Colorado;
- Bitoxibacillin;
- Fitoverm;
- Spark bio;
- Bicol;
- Akarin;
- Actovegin.
The price of one sachet is from 20 rubles. The product can be stored for no more than 12 months in a dark place.
Biological products are sold in specialized stores, hardware departments of supermarkets, and can be ordered online. Spraying is carried out twice a month throughout the entire growing season.
Operating principle
The insectofungicide affects adult representatives of the Colorado potato beetle colony that have survived the winter, and parasite larvae that have hatched from eggs. It is worth noting that the drug is effective for 40 days, if we talk about insects, but if we take into account fungal infections, then protection is provided for the entire growing season.
Active protection begins immediately after planting the tubers in the holes. Thanks to the active substance, the safety of young crop shoots is ensured. Potato seedlings absorb the working pesticide, after which it passes along the entire perimeter of the tissues and cells of the plant.
It is important to say that the poison does not accumulate in the tuber, so you don’t have to worry about your own health. Each substance will be removed by harvest.
Treatment with the presented drug is a guarantee of a beneficial effect on the crop, since resistance to negative environmental factors increases, growth and development of planting is accelerated. It should be noted that the labor intensity of the work is reduced, since you will not need to waste time fighting Colorado potato beetles.
Where to apply
Carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, beets, radishes, daikon, parsnips, onions (except for onions), celery, garlic, cucumber, zucchini, eggplant, squash, watermelon, melon, pumpkin, peas, beans* More details Harmful object: Soil pests : May beetle larvae, mole crickets, cutworms, wireworms; sucking pests: aphids, thrips, leafhoppers, whiteflies. Rate of use of the drug: 10 liters per 10 m2 of row at the rate of 2 ml of the drug per 10 liters of water. Method, processing time, application features: During the growing season: water the plant at the root. When planting: add the solution to the hole during or after planting. Perennial flowers: phlox, iris, lily, tulip, chamomile, peony, hosta, fern, clematis, botanus* More Harmful objects: May beetle larvae, mole crickets, root rot. Rate of use of the drug: 10 liters per 10 m2 at the rate of 2 ml per 10 liters of water. Method, processing time, application features: During the growing season: water the plant at the root. When planting: Apply the solution to the soil at the time of planting. Seedlings of fruit and berry, ornamental trees and shrubs: hydrangea, lilac, almond, spirea, barberry, grapes, currants, gooseberries, sea buckthorn, blueberries, raspberries, lemongrass, actinidia, strawberries, red rowan, chestnut, birch, oak, maple, willow* More details Harmful object: May beetle larvae, mole crickets, root and basal rot. Rate of use of the drug: 10 liters of solution at the rate of 2 ml of the drug per 10 liters of water. Method, processing time, application features: During the growing season: apply the solution under a tree or bush. When planting: add the solution to the planting hole during or after planting. Potatoes More details Harmful object:
Colorado potato beetle, wireworm, aphids, rhizoctonia, scab.
Rate of use of the drug: 10 ml per 100 ml of water per 10 kg of tubers. Method, processing time, application features: On the day of planting, heated, sprouted tubers are poured into buckets onto film in 1-3 layers to determine the total weight of the tubers. Using any sprayer (backpack or small hand-held), the tubers are evenly treated with the solution and mixed thoroughly. 1-2 hours after drying, the tubers can be planted.
Release form
The drug Prestige from the German manufacturer, the famous Bayer concern, is available for sale in several packages and forms:
- Syringes in blisters of 6 milliliters;
- 30 ml sachets;
- Bottles of 60/150/500 milliliters.
You can see what the packaging of the product looks like in the photos and pictures.
This is quite convenient for consumers, since it is possible to purchase any volume of the product depending on the intended processing.
Advantages and disadvantages of insecticide
Different types of insecticides have been used by gardeners for a long time, but with the advent of Prestige, the attitude towards drugs of this type has changed.
If we talk about the advantages, the substance has:
- Low toxicity – 3rd class;
- No need for frequent processing;
- Long period of exposure – protection for 40 days;
- Highly effective against Colorado potato beetles, fungus, mold;
- The ability to accelerate the process of photosynthesis, which in turn has a positive effect on the development and growth of the crop;
- Resistance of components to the influence of light and moisture;
- Rapid penetration into plant tissue, which turns it into a toxic plant for insects, but at the same time safe for humans.
Prestige disinfectant is an effective remedy for combating:
- Colorado beetles;
- Aphids;
- Midge;
- Thrips;
- Sawflies;
- Wireworms;
- I pray.
In addition, vegetation is protected from scab and rhizoctonia disease.
Taking into account the disadvantages of the drug, reviews indicate that the cost of the product is quite high, but the expenditure of money is fully compensated by the results obtained. As an analogue, Prestigator is often used to treat tubers and process seedlings.
Traditional methods
If you want to grow an environmentally friendly potato crop, you can resort to folk remedies and safe techniques. For example, experienced gardeners know that the Colorado potato beetle does not like the smell of cilantro, beets, garlic, calendula, and legumes. To repel the pest, these plants can be planted between potato rows or alternate beds.
Wood ash is popularly used to process seed tubers. It is better if the material is obtained from burning birch, but if this is not available, then other wood will do just fine. The tubers are sprinkled with ash right before planting. This protection prevents potatoes from rotting and developing diseases. And the remains of onion peel, added to the hole during planting, will save the tubers from being eaten by underground pests. Perhaps, in terms of effectiveness, traditional methods are not quite as effective as the Prestige drug, but they allow you to grow completely safe and healthy potatoes.
Features of pre-planting treatment
The list of agrotechnical measures to protect potato plantings from parasites includes pre-sowing disinfestation of tubers - this is an opportunity to destroy all kinds of infectious pathogens, as well as increase the immunity of crops.
But here it is necessary to take into account that effectiveness is achieved only in the case of an integrated approach, including procedures for late blight, alternaria, and fusarium.
Preplanting treatment is carried out in the following sequence:
- Fill the sprayer tank with 3 liters of water.
- Add concentrated suspension - 50 milliliters.
- Mix thoroughly.
- Place the potatoes on the surface of the film or dense material in one layer.
- Spray the solution on one side of the tubers.
- Wait until dry and turn over.
- Process the back side of the potatoes.
Make sure that the potatoes are completely covered with the solution. Tubers that have undergone treatment cannot be cut before planting. This amount of suspension is enough to disinfect about 50 kilograms of potatoes.
Features of processing before germination
The product has proven to be an excellent treatment for potatoes before sprouting. This procedure involves spraying seed tubers with a prepared solution on all sides before planting (20-25 days before).
The working suspension must be prepared in the following proportions: 50 milliliters of product per 0.6 liters of water. Spraying should be done from a spray bottle, wait until it dries, and then put it in a box for germination. It is possible to combine several drugs, including growth stimulants, for spraying tubers.
Providing protection for seedlings with Prestige
Prestige shows itself excellently when processing garden crops and growing plants. Colorado beetles are dangerous not only for potatoes, but also for peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants.
In order to provide protection, you need to soak the roots of the plants in an insecticidal solution:
- Dilute the drug in a ratio of 10 milliliters per 1 liter of water.
- Stir.
- Pour into a wide container.
- Dip the roots of the seedlings into the solution.
- Wait about 7-8 hours.
- Plant it.
The product is also used to treat the roots of berry bushes and fruit plants. Such an event makes it possible to ensure the safety of vegetation from leaf-loading and sucking insects, and soil parasites.
How much of the drug needs to be diluted? Processing should be carried out as follows:
- Prepare a special solution based on 800 grams of clay, 1 liter of water, 800 grams of compost/humus.
- Dilute 20 milliliters of Prestige in 1 liter of water.
- Mix 2 solutions.
- Dip the roots of the seedlings into the composition.
This amount is designed to process 30-40 bushes.
It is recommended to immediately plant treated plants without seasoning, since over time the effectiveness of pesticides will begin to decrease.
Terms of use
According to the instructions, “Prestige” for the Colorado potato beetle can be used to treat tubers before germination, immediately before planting, and also to protect seedlings.
On a note! “Prestige” is a concentrated suspension from which a working solution is prepared. The product is diluted with water in proportions that will depend on the purpose of the drug!
Let's look at each option in more detail.
Pre-planting treatment
Dressing of tubers is an important part of measures aimed at protecting potatoes from pests and diseases. Thanks to this operation, the infection on the tubers is destroyed and the potatoes receive reliable protection from the action of microorganisms throughout the entire germination period.
Important! Dressing tubers does not free the agronomist from the subsequent use of drugs whose action is aimed at protecting against late blight, as well as other diseases and pests!
- Prepare a working solution from 50 ml of concentrated suspension and 2.5-3 liters of water. This amount is enough for 50 kg of potatoes.
- For treatment, use a canister sprayer, backpack sprayer or household sprayer.
- Spread the seed material on a film or sheet of roofing felt; its layer should not be higher than 2-3 tubers.
- Spray the preparation onto the tubers, with each tuber covered by at least ¾ of the solution. To increase efficiency, after complete drying, each tuber can be turned over and the treatment repeated on the other side.
Important! Do not cut the treated tubers before planting!
Treatment before germination
Poison from the Colorado potato beetle "Prestige" can be used before sprouting tubers. In this case, processing is carried out in advance - 15-20 days.
- The working solution is prepared from 30 ml of suspension and 600 ml of water.
- Using a spray bottle, the solution is sprayed onto the tubers and left for some time until completely dry.
- The treated potatoes are placed for germination and treated with the same solution again before planting.
On a note! Seed potatoes can be simultaneously treated with growth regulators and biologically active substances! In this case, the surface of the planting material must be processed by at least 90%!
Seedling protection
As you know, the Colorado potato beetle attacks not only potatoes, but also other crops such as tomatoes, eggplants, cabbage and sweet peppers. The Prestige disinfectant can also be used to protect them.
- Prepare a working solution from 10 ml of concentrate and 1 liter of water.
- Dip the roots of the seedlings into the prepared product and leave for 8 hours.
- After the specified time, the seedlings should be immediately planted in the ground.
Toxicity
The drug is classified in the third hazard class - this indicates the need to comply with processing times and take into account the characteristics of the planting vegetation. The use of the substance in the middle climatic zone is allowed only on mid-late or late potato varieties, since it takes time for all the active substances to leave the tubers before harvesting.
If we take into account the south, then you can choose mid-early and mid-ripening varieties, but you need to calculate the release time of toxic components. By the time the active substances are removed, reliable protection of the plantings from pathogens and parasites is guaranteed.
Providing precautions
The drug, which belongs to the third class of toxicity, does not pose a danger to animals, birds, or humans. But despite this, working with chemicals requires caution and following instructions.
It is worth noting that poisoning is possible only if the dosage of the active substance is significantly exceeded, as well as if it enters the body.
You must follow the following safety rules:
- When processing tubers and plants, you need to provide yourself with protective clothing, a mask and gloves;
- After spraying, you need to wash special protective clothing, take a shower and thoroughly wash your face and hands with soap. It is also necessary to rinse your mouth and nose with clean water;
- You need to lay out the potatoes on a film or dense material, and then transport them in bags.
- After soaking, the seedlings require placement in bags/boxes, with roots facing down, then immediately planting.
Safety rules when working with chemicals
Despite the fact that the drug has safety class 3 (low toxicity to humans), certain rules must be followed during preparation and during further use of the product:
- All work should be done only with rubber gloves and a protective apron. Women must wear their hair under a headscarf. It is advisable to use a respirator and safety glasses.
- People with allergic reactions are not recommended to prepare and further use the chemical.
- When preparing the working solution, it is important to ensure that children, pregnant women and pets are not nearby.
- The chemical should only be stored out of the reach of children and pets.
- It is prohibited to use a product whose shelf life has expired.
- After processing agricultural crops, you need to change clothes, thoroughly wash your hands, face and neck with soap, and take a shower.
- If the active solution gets into your eyes, you should immediately rinse them with copious amounts of running cool water. If after this there are signs such as lacrimation, redness of the mucous membrane, swelling, impaired visual function, then the victim should immediately call an emergency ambulance.
- In case of accidental ingestion of the working solution, it is necessary to urgently rinse the stomach with plenty of water. It is advisable to provoke the vomiting process yourself. After this, you must take any adsorbent (Polysorb or activated carbon). If symptoms of poisoning appear, call an ambulance.
- If the active composition comes into contact with unprotected PPE skin, immediately rinse the skin area with water.
