1. Home
  2. Winemaking Craft Forum
  3. Seven dust - Applied a month ago - Still toxic or not ?

Seven dust - Applied a month ago - Still toxic or not ?

Last month ( mid June ) I had applied Seven dust to my grapevine due to Japanese Beatle infestation. I applied by hand ( gloved ). I grabbed a handfull at a time and just tossed it across the whole of the foliage and grape clusters. Here it is mid July and I still see some rather rich deposits of the dust sitting on the clusters. As these grapes ( type unknown ) are reaching ripeness they will no doubt be harvested within the next 2 weeks to make wine. Will the residual Seven dust pose any health threats at this point ? I've tried rinsing with a garden hose but to no avail.

TIA

Paul

Reply to
Paul J. Dudley
Loading thread data ...

Sevin is pretty low toxicity and the chemical has probably largely broken down in a months exposure to sunlight, but I wouldn't want to eat anything that had "rich deposits" of residue without making sure it was washed well. If reasonably high pressure from a hose won't remove it, you may have to pick the grapes and then do a hand scrub in water to get it all off. Rinse well after that and you should be fine.

Stephen

Reply to
shbailey

Thank you Stephen. I will take your advice. That way I'll get to meet each individual berry on a more personal level ( before I squash it ). I did have a bumper crop this year and it would be a shame to kill rats and other varmin by having to trash them. I suppose a mildly soapy water and a 3 inch paint brush to scrub with just might be in order.

= Paul

Reply to
Paul J. Dudley

I would try it on a per cluster basis first to hopefully avoid dealing with each berry. If you use soap, make sure you rinse it really well or you will end up with another chemical problem. One of the produce washes (Fit, etc.) might be a worthwhile option, though more expensive than soap.

Stephen

Reply to
shbailey

Hey again Stephen. I found the Sevin web site:

formatting link
Since the dust was given to me in a mason jar with no other instructions other that " grab handfulls and just toss it across the whole of the vine " I wasn't even sure at first who made it.

Apparently for grapes the preharvest interval is 7 days. That sounds promissing. Their FAQ mentions:

Q : How does Sevin control insects?

A: Sevin has a dual mode-of-action - it works on contact and through ingestion. Sevin is non-systemic, which means it does not penetrate plant tissue - it stays on the outside. After controlling the targeted pest, Sevin is easily broken down in the environment.

I am a little more optimistic now, and will rely on washing them pretty bunches..

Thanks again for your responses,

= Paul

Reply to
Paul J. Dudley

DrinksForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.