Prevent now to reduce future loss

For twenty years there were two jobs I really did not look forward to, cleaning the heating system and spraying. Spraying is the necessary evil to ensure we produce to the maximum potential and keep insects and fungus’s at bay. Even organic growers have a need to spray. I worked within a large organic greenhouse in England that sprayed organic pyre-thrums to control a beneficial insect Macrolophus when its population balance was out of kilter. Once the Macrolophus ran out of white-fly to feast upon, they started to eat the flowers of the plants. So, no matter what or how you are growing there is a need to spray.

Even home gardeners need to spray, or insects can really take over. A current example in my garden with my cauliflower and broccoli that is being attacked by caterpillars at the moment. (see image below!!)

I have always favoured IPM programs , I remember spending hours per week hanging out cards with Encarsia eggs to help combat white-fly. There was a higher cost to this method, than spraying chemicals, but it was better than the alternative.

Late Autumn crops will become increasingly vulnerable to fungal pressure. It has been hard for growers, over the past two weeks, as there have been three public holidays, the staff shortages, due to covid, and all the other day to day pressures currently consuming their time. One task that may be delayed for a week is spraying, especially if you don’t have the time but it is essential to help reduce crop losses or reduction in production that you keep up with regular preventative treatments. It is paramount, as energy cost are rising growers find it necessary to only provide minimal heating inputs (controlling high humidity) that your preventative spray programs are maintained.

I do keep reiterating the point as it is incredibly important to either heat effectively or spray to prevent plant health issues. If you don’t heat effectively then you need to spray on time. Re-entry times for various products are currently under review, this is also going to potentially surprise growers and make it harder to apply certain trusted and tried products. Growers will either start investigating if they can get alternative biological products or control their environments better.

The best thing you can do as a grower is make sure you follow application rates and mixing rates accurately. Ensure you have discussed with your supplier the PH requirements of the water and if spreaders can be added to assist the effectiveness of the products. Just like your boiler your sprayers need servicing, the pumps, the filters, and the nozzles. If you are not covering the target correctly then you can’t expect optimal results.

Article written and compiled by Stefan Vogrincic

All Article’s checked and edited by Marie Vogrincic

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