What is the best way to process potatoes from the Colorado potato beetle before planting: Taboo, Confidor and wood ash

The Colorado potato beetle is more than any other insect capable of harming potatoes.

Colorado potato beetle destroying potato bush

Gluttonous larvae devour all the leaves in a few days, leaving only the stems.

In order not to be left without a crop, you will need to process potato seeds from the Colorado potato beetle: we will tell you how and what is the best way to process potatoes in this article.

Means for preplanting nightshade

The incredibly gluttonous Colorado potato beetle, with its love of potatoes, has become the main enemy of all gardeners who cultivate this crop. This parasite multiplies very quickly and does not leave potato plantings a single chance for normal development. An especially fierce fight between summer residents and insects occurs at the height of summer, when the former by all possible methods are trying to prevent the loss of crops, and the army of the latter is already quite numerous and therefore rather difficult to cope with.

So that the fight against the Colorado potato beetle does not become a stumbling block for you on the way to a natural, whole and large potato, dressing should be carried out before planting.

Professional protection

Often, potato processing is not complete without chemicals. Somewhat earlier, gardeners preferred to use poisons from foreign manufacturers, but in recent years, the domestic industry has also been able to release several worthy products, which in a short period of time managed to win a fairly large number of positive reviews.

On a note! In fact, domestic and foreign chemicals differ little in their effectiveness, since most of the active ingredients are the same!

"Prestige" - protects plantings from both the Colorado potato beetle and scab. To prepare a working solution, mix 50 ml of insecticide and 3 liters of water.

This amount is enough for pickling 50 kg of potato tubers. "Prestige" - a reliable shield against pests, time-tested
"Maxim" - allows you to significantly enhance the protection of nightshades. Many gardeners prefer to use this drug in combination with Prestige. Means "Maxim" can be used to process both planting material and soil.

"Maxim" is an excellent prevention of the invasion of the Colorado potato beetle
"Cruiser" is a fairly effective disinfectant that restrains not only pest attacks, but also the spread of viral diseases. Protects plantings from pests for 7-8 weeks
Tabu is a powerful modern remedy that reliably protects nightshades from soil pests. Valid for 45 days. Its effectiveness is independent of environmental conditions.

"Taboo" - reliable protection of a plant at the most vulnerable stage of its development

Advice! For the maximum degree of protection, it is advisable to combine the above drugs!

The processing of potatoes from the Colorado potato beetle before planting with the help of chemicals is carried out according to a rather simple scheme. The tubers are laid out on a dense material, according to the instructions, an insecticidal solution is prepared. The finished product is poured into a spray bottle and then sprayed onto the potatoes.As soon as the treated side of the tubers is dry, they are turned over and treated in the same way on the other side. The dried material is immediately planted in the beds.

Important! When working with chemicals, it is necessary to use protective equipment: the face is covered with a mask or kerchief, hands - with gloves! Landing is done without removing gloves!

Folk methods

For processing tubers before planting, you can use folk methods.

Wood ash. Combine wood ash and water in a bucket in a ratio of 1:10. Fold the potatoes in a mesh and dip in the prepared solution.
Potassium permanganate. For 10 liters of water, take 1 g of permanganate, stir and dip the tubers into the prepared solution before planting.
Boric acid. In a bucket of water, 15 g of boric acid are diluted and the planting material is etched in this tool.
Copper sulfate. For each liter of water add 1 g of copper sulfate, stir and use for dressing tubers.

Sparing means for processing potato tubers with an integrated approach will help protect plantings from pests

Resistant varieties

Potatoes resistant to the Colorado potato beetle during the growth period are capable of producing special substances - glycoalkaloids, which inhibit the development of insects. They inhibit the digestive system of the pest, the larvae grow slowly, and the pupation process takes a very long time. But at the same time, the taste qualities of such a product are far from always at their best, and absolutely stable varieties do not exist at the moment.

Below we list the most common potato varieties that are characterized by relative resistance to the Colorado potato beetle:

"Zarevo" - refers to medium-late varieties of potatoes, has a white flesh, which is covered with a mesh skin of pink color. From one hectare it is possible to collect 500-550 centners;
"Lasunak" - the peel is white, the pulp is colored white with a yellow tinge. The variety is late ripening. Resistance to rhizoctonia is high, to viral and late blight infections - relatively high. Starch content - about 18-22%;
"Svitanok" - medium early potatoes with pink skin and cream-colored flesh. Resistance to the Colorado potato beetle is relative, but the regeneration capacity of the variety after damage is increased;
"Peresvet" - has good resistance to soil pests, as it has a high content of alkaloids;
"Nakra" is not only resistant to the Colorado potato beetle, but, unlike many, is considered quite tasty.

Signs of a wireworm in potato beds

Potatoes for wireworm larvae are a favorite treat. They especially appreciate the potato tubers themselves, but they do not shun the roots and tops. It is quite difficult to spot the wireworm on potato crops, but there are still several signs that indicate its presence:

Detection of single wilted potato bushes. The fact is that in the ground they move mainly vertically, going deeper into the soil by 1 - 2 meters. At the same time, they do not move further from the place of their feeding with potato tubers by more than 20 cm. Such a feature of this pest allows it to eat only individual potato plants.
You can find wireworm larvae with early digging of potatoes. Young potato tubers will have through narrow holes and dark depressions on the skin through which the larvae move.
Read also: Who is a skin beetle and what harm does it cause? How to find and get rid of the apartment?
You can also notice wireworm larvae when digging or loosening a potato bed. In the summer, the wireworm moves in the upper layers of the soil at a depth of 5 to 10 cm.

Important! If a wireworm is found on a potato, it can easily be confused with a useful ground beetle. A distinctive feature of the wireworm is the characteristic click produced by the pest when turned over.

How to process potatoes before planting from the Colorado potato beetle

For many, potatoes are the basis of nutrition, therefore, in almost every summer cottage, a significant area is allocated for this crop. To obtain a bountiful harvest, it must be carefully looked after: watering, fertilizing, hilling. But the greatest difficulty is the fight against its main insatiable pest - the Colorado potato beetle. This striped insect once lived only in a certain area of Mexico, and then began to spread to the American states. It was nicknamed the Colorado potato beetle only after hordes of these insects devastated potato fields in Colorado in 1958. Later, cargo ships brought him to Europe. The Colorado potato beetle appeared in the USSR in the 1940s.

Since then, an endless intense war of Soviet farmers with a beetle began, which strove to leave them without the main root in any feast of a root crop. What summer residents and owners of huge fields have not tried so that the striped Mexican does not nullify their works. In the process of a tense struggle, the most effective means were identified, which gained great popularity. Let's discuss in more detail how to process potatoes before planting from the Colorado potato beetle. This question has been giving rise to a lot of talk and controversy for many years.

Homeland of the Colorado potato beetle - Mexico

Treatment with special preparations on the eve of planting

Chemical preparations are very effective against the striped pest. The only pity is that they cannot be called the safest. In no case, do not forget during such processing to protect yourself with a protective suit and respirator, and use a separate container to dilute unsafe products. So which drugs are most effective?

Prestige and its analogues (Confidor, Antizhuk, Ratibor) These drugs, which are similar, have proven their effectiveness not only against the beetle named after the American state. After processing, the active components are distributed evenly throughout the plant and protect all its parts from all kinds of pests and various diseases. After the tubers are processed and planted in the ground, the effect of Prestige and its analogues lasts for two months, after which the Colorado beetles again become a thunderstorm for the harvest.

Aktara This is a Swiss-made insecticide. Its advantage is low toxicity and effectiveness against other pests. You can treat the seed tubers with Aktara or pour the solution into each well during planting. Its validity period is somewhat shorter than that of those described above - no more than 30 days. Therefore, it is usually applied two or three times per season. Due to its fast removal, Aktara is suitable for processing early potato varieties.

Maxim The drug is effective in the fight against many pests and diseases, but its components do not deteriorate the quality of the soil. It strengthens potato sprouts and accelerates their growth. Maxim is approved by the Ministry of Health for use in private households. Farmers have noticed a particular efficiency in the treatment of potato tubers with a combination of Prestige and Maxim. It is better to process tubers before planting by soaking in solution for 30 minutes. It is also advisable to treat the soil area selected for planting with it.

Cruiser The drug has an insecticidal and fungicidal effect, with a particularly wide spectrum. The active ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the plant, accelerating growth and protecting from the cold. Its validity period is from four to six weeks. When the Cruiser is combined with the Maxim drug, the effect increases.

Biological development cycle and lifestyle

Beetles overwinter at a depth of 20-40 cm. In spring they come to the surface, gathering on potato seedlings. A few days after emergence, the mating period begins.After another 3-4 days, females lay eggs, on average, 30-40 eggs per clutch.

The larvae are especially gluttonous. They develop within two to three weeks, then go into the soil to pupate.

June-July is the time when the first young animals emerge from pupae. A small part of young females, laying eggs, gives rise to the next summer generation. But the bulk of the beetles, without reproducing, goes to winter in the soil. They will actively breed next year.

How to process potatoes from the Colorado potato beetle before planting

During the period of field and garden work, the fight against the Colorado potato beetle among gardeners is in the first place. This pest is not picky - it eats tomatoes, eggplants, but it does the main harm to the potato crop. Processing potatoes before planting from the Colorado potato beetle helps protect the tubers, but there is also a downside - the toxic agent gets into the plant juice, and such potatoes can no longer be considered absolutely safe for health.

In addition, such popular poisons as Prestige and Confidor are made on the basis of imidacloprid and, in fact, are analogs. Even if you change them every year, the Colorado potato beetle develops immunity, and it becomes more and more difficult to fight it. Agronomists and experienced farmers recommend treating the tubers with biological products before planting. Biologics are non-toxic and do not accumulate in vegetables. It also does not hurt to sprinkle the planting potatoes with boric acid, ash and copper sulfate in the old fashioned way for greater resistance to pests.

Tuber processing

How and what to deal with the beetle - each farmer decides for himself. But the technologies for processing tubers before planting are approximately similar for all types of funds.

The first way

Protect skin and respiratory system before handling chemicals. For this, gloves are put on the hands, a mask or a scarf is put on the face.
The pre-planting potatoes are laid out on a tarp in one layer.
The solution is mixed in a bucket or spray bottle. Proportion is important, especially if you are using a pesticide.
In the absence of a spray, use a broom or brush. The tubers are evenly sprayed on one side, after which the solution should dry out.
The potatoes should be carefully turned over so as not to break off the young tuber sprouts.
The product is applied from the other side. After the tubers are dry, the potatoes are immediately ready for planting.
You should also throw potatoes into the holes without removing your gloves.

Second way

It is applied immediately after the potatoes are taken out of the cellar. It is preferable to use this method for treatment with non-toxic drugs.

A solution is made according to the instructions.
The tubers are placed in a net and gently dipped into a bucket.
Before planting, the potatoes are laid out in one layer to dry and germinate the roots. You can additionally treat the tubers with growth stimulants.

At the height of summer, the fight against the Colorado potato beetle is so unequal that, keeping this in mind, farmers take risks and get not entirely natural, but whole and rather large potatoes. Rest assured, pre-planting is not complete without chemicals for potatoes for sale.

To protect the crop from the beetle, poisons of mainly foreign production are used before planting. But recently, domestic analogs have appeared, although they are based on almost the same substances.

Insectofungicide from the German concern Bayer, sold on the market with packaging of 30 ml and 150 ml in ampoules. The most popular remedy for the fight against the Colorado potato beetle and other pests. Contains substances that stimulate the growth of potatoes and protect them until the very period of flowering:

imidacloprid is a moderately toxic pesticide that affects the nervous system of insects, provokes paralysis;
pencycuron - pesticide, fungicide, slows down the development of the fungus.

Pest control methods

There are only 2 methods of seed protection. At the first, the tubers are treated with chemicals, and at the second: by folk methods.

Treatment with pesticides is more effective, but folk remedies do not affect beneficial insects, cannot harm the health of pets and humans.

For each method of processing seed potatoes, you must follow the instructions for preparing the solutions. Toxic chemicals of high concentration can burn the tubers or will be removed from the plants for a long time, not allowing the crop to be harvested at the usual time. Incorrectly prepared organic matter can also harm the sprouts and delay their development, which would be undesirable.

Non-toxic drugs

Someone will say that nothing works more reliable than proven pesticides. But it is worth considering: is such a fight against a beetle beneficial if children eat vegetables grown? Despite the specified decay time of pesticides, potato fruits can retain chemicals in themselves for up to a year.

An alternative to pesticides is biological products that are used by microorganisms, fungal spores. Biological products are inferior to chemicals in terms of resistance to weather conditions, but can be used against the Colorado potato beetle in any period of potato growth and are especially effective against larvae.

Biological insectoacaricide from the manufacturer Biovetpharm based on waste products of the fungus Streptomyces avermitilis. The drug does not accumulate in the soil, it is safe for people, animals, bees and earthworms. But on the Colorado potato beetle and its larvae, this agent acts as a neurotoxin.

Aktofit helps to fight such pests as:

Against the clutch of the Colorado potato beetle, Aktofit is used with Bitoxibacillin, another broad-spectrum biological product. Potatoes are processed 2-3 times per season.

The tubers are soaked in the solution before planting, which helps fight the overwintered beetle in the soil. After eating the treat, the pests die within two days after planting the potatoes. This treatment reduces the number of adults that can reproduce in the area.
When clutches and larvae are found on the stems, the plants and soil are re-treated with Aktofit with Bitoxibacillin.

Unlike pesticides, biologics are not addictive to insects, which makes fighting the Colorado potato beetle easier and more effective. In addition, these substances quickly disintegrate in the soil, so you can process the plant, and after a couple of days you can already dig up young tubers for cooking.

Mineral treatment

Many gardeners get good results after treating tubers with potassium permanganate, wood ash, boric acid. These substances were used by our ancestors, moreover, they are absolutely safe for health.

Manganese solution

The tubers are processed by dipping in a net and left for a month for root germination.

Boric acid

It is used for treating various types of insects, including the Colorado potato beetle. Tubers are sprayed or dipped in a solution that is prepared at the rate of 1 g of boric acid for each liter of water.

Prevention of the appearance of a wireworm in the garden.

Many gardeners avoid following the rule of crop rotation on the site, considering it unimportant. Nevertheless, this event plays a huge role in the fight against diseases and pests, affects the quality and quantity of the crop.

Remove fruits from the soil.

In autumn, remove all root crops from the soil, because in this case, the existing wireworms will be provided with a hunger strike in winter.

The cold will destroy the remaining insects and in the spring they will not threaten your potatoes, regardless of the weather conditions, but the tubers wintering in the ground will become a repository for pests.

Soil acidity.

Maintain the soil on the site in optimal condition, its acidity level should be neutral.

If the garden attracts plants such as sorrel and plantain, it's time to think about liming the earth.

Plant near dahlias.

Plant dahlias near the potato garden, which have a pungent smell for the wireworm, and also sprinkle the garden with crushed eggshells.