In what order should sprays be applied? Spray Schedule...

Dewayne mater · June 6, 2016

This is one the best questions I've seen in a while! To me, determining when to use the various tools in the arsenal is one of the most complex and important decisions. Sometimes, its obvious. If you have something raging, you must attack that first. Example, if you spot mold, particularly a black mold, you must attack that first as it will spread and spread fast. In fact, it has already spread far beyond where it is visible. I've been following Bill's method of bleach spray when that type of issue arises. On the other hand, if you have a leaf or two with some early signs of early blight, but, you've got a serious infestation of some sort, you probably want to attack the bugs first.

The harder part is when you've got both issues and both are of a similar level of concern. I've seen Bill's answer and it confirms what I've been doing, which was just by my own trial and error. If you have disease and insect issues, attack disease first with bleach, followed by fungicide. Then come back to get the insects.

This year, for disease I've twice used a combination spray of liquid copper and mancozeb. In spite of what has been by all accounts the wettest coolest Spring in many years, disease has not been a major problem. I feel like pruning was a key in this regard, but, the tomatoes I grow in earthtainers are not pruned anything like my ground tomatoes that are on strings and pruned to 2 or 3 vines per plant. From visible appearances, I believe the mancozeb sticks to leaves better and longer than Daconil and works in similar way - by occupying the leaf surface to keep diseases from attaching. I wonder if anyone else has a similar (or different) opinion about mancozeb?

Finally - on spraying and using protection, I wear long pants, long sleeved shirts, gloves, a hat and a bandana. I'm sure a respirator is better, but, a bandana is fairly effective. Also, try not to spray when it is windy. That does more than anything to keep it off of you and get things where they need to be.

Dewayne

PS - In addition to the things you spray with, I also use Spinosad (first before pyrethrin or permthrein). It is fairly effective and organically acceptable. Pretty effective when used at routine intervals. You have to use it often enough to break the life cycle of the pest(s) in question.

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June 6, 2016	#10
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	This is one the best questions I've seen in a while! To me, determining when to use the various tools in the arsenal is one of the most complex and important decisions. Sometimes, its obvious. If you have something raging, you must attack that first. Example, if you spot mold, particularly a black mold, you must attack that first as it will spread and spread fast. In fact, it has already spread far beyond where it is visible. I've been following Bill's method of bleach spray when that type of issue arises. On the other hand, if you have a leaf or two with some early signs of early blight, but, you've got a serious infestation of some sort, you probably want to attack the bugs first. The harder part is when you've got both issues and both are of a similar level of concern. I've seen Bill's answer and it confirms what I've been doing, which was just by my own trial and error. If you have disease and insect issues, attack disease first with bleach, followed by fungicide. Then come back to get the insects. This year, for disease I've twice used a combination spray of liquid copper and mancozeb. In spite of what has been by all accounts the wettest coolest Spring in many years, disease has not been a major problem. I feel like pruning was a key in this regard, but, the tomatoes I grow in earthtainers are not pruned anything like my ground tomatoes that are on strings and pruned to 2 or 3 vines per plant. From visible appearances, I believe the mancozeb sticks to leaves better and longer than Daconil and works in similar way - by occupying the leaf surface to keep diseases from attaching. I wonder if anyone else has a similar (or different) opinion about mancozeb? Finally - on spraying and using protection, I wear long pants, long sleeved shirts, gloves, a hat and a bandana. I'm sure a respirator is better, but, a bandana is fairly effective. Also, try not to spray when it is windy. That does more than anything to keep it off of you and get things where they need to be. Dewayne PS - In addition to the things you spray with, I also use Spinosad (first before pyrethrin or permthrein). It is fairly effective and organically acceptable. Pretty effective when used at routine intervals. You have to use it often enough to break the life cycle of the pest(s) in question.