I'm planning for spring. Have been reading about dormant oil sprays. Have never applied it myself. Do any of the grape growers on this group use dormant oil sprays? Is it advisable or not? Do you make your own? (I got a recipe) or do you use commercial spray? I've read it being applied to grapes. I wouldn't mind some feedback on this.
Jeff
Jeff, I learned about grapes from an expert in Arkansas and he told me the only thing I had to spray for was fungus. He said spray Captain (pronounced Captaan) on them in the spring. (don't hold me to the spelling of that product.) He sprayed once a year, but sometimes I had to spray twice.
Normally the dormant spray is used to control borers and other insects that grapes aren't normally bothered with. Again that will probably depend on where you live.
I would ask my extension agent or get on the internet and type in growing grapes. Then find a University in your area and click on that one. I have learned a lot about grapes by doing that.
Dwayne
Yes, I've read about Kaptan (sp?), and looked for it around here. Apparently it's banned where I am. However, since my vineyard is small, I've been pretty satisfied with Safers End All. It seems to do the job for most of the pests here. Even so, I'm curious about the oil. Thanks for the reply.
Jeff
Use it. I dont see any harm it could cause, but I have never seen any bug damage on any of my grapes I raised in Arkansas or Kansas.
Have fun.
Dwayne
Jeff,
Dormant oils "smother" fungus so they won't be around next year. If you use them make sure you get GOOD coverage. THe chemical Captan ( right spelling ) is used for Phomopsis Cane and Downey Mildew. Those are the disaeses it works BEST against that's why it's sprayed EARLY next spring. I've heard it used for dormant sprays also. I'm surprised its banned in your area. It's really quite safe. It's "days to harvest" limitation is 0. I've read that if your worried about fungus for new vines ,dip the vines in a 5% bleach solution in the spring then rinse. I'm actually trying to find out whether I could spray my vines with a bleach solution in spring. Maybe import the water from a "public drinking" supply. being accostomed to GREAT well water drinking public water tastes like a pool to me now.
Bob
I am curious where you are that Captan is banned. It's generally regarded as quite safe except for fish.
I could be wrong. But I seem to recall a visit to a local nursery chain about a year ago, and was informed that they don't carry it because it is no longer available to the retail home garden grower. The horticulturist there told me it has been banned, etc. It might be still used in an industrial agricultural level, but, even after checking today, haven't been able to pick it up at a retailers.
If I'm dead set on it, I'll probably have to go to an industrial wholesaler.
In the mean time, I'm spraying my dorman rooted cuttings in cold storage with a sulfur based fungicide.
Jeff
Jeff, Captan is under a voluntary ban from juice and fresh market grape producers NY and has been for some time. Here is an excerpt of some concerns:
.."The five pesticides cited by the UFW are dinoseb, methyl bromide, phosdrin (mevinphos), parathion, and captan. Collectively, the chemicals have been termed "the most lethal substances used in the growing of table grapes" by UFW President Cesar Chavez."
.."public concern over food and environmental safety, whether justified or not, is intensifying and changing the way Labrusca grape growers manage their vineyard pests. Grape processors in the Lake Erie region process grapes from across New York State and have taken a proactive approach to consumer concerns over pesticides. Because Labrusca grapes are used primarily in products (grape juices and jams) which have children as a major part of their consumer base, consumer concern over pesticides have lead to a voluntary ban of Captan use by growers who deliver to these processors. The use of EBDC fungicides (Dithane, Penncozeb, Maneb, and Mancozeb) has been restricted, by processors, on the period prior to the first sign of bloom to eliminate the chance of residues being present at harvest."
IMHO it depends on your viewpoint. I find growers are completely blind to the dangers of pesticides since they know their financial livelihood depends on their spray program. The fact that their father, uncle whoever died of cancer at a young age doesn't sink in. Conscientious consumers are appalled by the liberal use of chemicals with few controls and very few independent scientific studies on the effects.
Regardless you initially asked about dormant sprays - I don't see conventional growers using dormant sprays on grapes the feeling is that it is not economically feasible. However, organic producers seem to use dormant sprays to try and get on top of pest issues. The most common dormant sprays I have seen used on grapes are lime-sulfur or copper. These are said to reduce overwintering inoculants of mildew, black rot, mites ... Sarge
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