[slopym]

Hi all

When my tomatoes caught Blight I pulled them all up except three plants which did not seem too badly affected.

I read somewhere that Bordeaux powder can stop blight and on the container it says to add the powder at the end of July and it can prevent Blight.

I powdered my remaining plants and the traces of blight disappeared! I'm now getting tomatos from these plants.

Does this really work? Could I have saved all my crop with this? And furthermore is it safe?

I bought the Bordeaux powder years ago for no reason other than its meant to be organic and  might come in use. I know its used with fruit,  but it does say it can help prevent blight, if I had applied it in late July (probably about the time blight started) I might be inundated with toms now!

I understand it is dangerous for animals and humans the active ingredient is Copper sulphate.

Is it safe to eat the fruit after using this, if so, why don't people use it?

 :?:

[Aunt Sally]

The active ingredient is copper sulphate, which is very toxic and dangerous to wild life.

Organic does not necessarily mean good or safe  :!:

[muntjac]

i use it myself so you can decide your own path with this product .i close all the windows in the greenhouse and use a puff spray and it is then a good idea to close the doors for an hour .  then your ok to go in open the windows and let it clear

[WG.]

I have listed it in the Glossary of Terms.

See also http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=61_181&products_id=517

[Aunt Sally]

Thanks for that WG.  Your glossary of terms says "as a last resort"

You might find this information interesting:

http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/carbaryl-dicrotophos/copper-sulfate-ext.html

How can a chemical like copper sulphate be considered organic  :?:

[WG.]

I don't use it.  The "last resort" wording was cribbed from the Organic Catalogue page

[mushroom]

How can a chemical like copper sulphate be considered organic  :?:

I'd say this depends on context. It is an inorganic chemical but in the context of "organic gardening" I'd guess "organic" means "not complex and not derived from e.g oil".

It is a simple chemical (just like table salt - would you consider salt "organic" in this context?) but as others have pointed out, a poisonous one.

[wildeone]

So i expect that the 'organic' tomatoes that sell for a bomb in shops are still sprayed with chemicals! but just chemicals that have got through the organic loopholes! :roll:  :roll:  :roll:  :roll:  :roll:

[mushroom]

So i expect that the 'organic' tomatoes that sell for a bomb in shops are still sprayed with chemicals! but just chemicals that have got through the organic loopholes! :roll:  :roll:  :roll:  :roll:  :roll:

When working in the acedemic or industrial chemical field, the terms "organic" and "inorganic" have precisely defined, specific meanings. Basically, in this context, organic chemistry is carbon-based (more usually hydrocarbon based), inorganic covers everything else.

Additionally "sprayed with chemicals" can mean anything. Water is a chemical. The air we breathe is a mixture of chemicals.

My personal opinion is that "organic gardening" needs another word or term to describe itself, because what it means currently is dependent on your viewpoint, and you don't want that if you're going to describe a particular way of doing things.

[jacnal]

Hmmm. Food for thought.......

[WG.]

Water!  Dodgy stuff!!!  Never trust a chemical with molecular weight of only 18 which manages to remain in liquid or solid form until 100 degs Celsius (at 1 atmosphere of pressure).  Add to that : the solid form floats on the liquid form which is denser at 4 degs C than it is below that.  Two covalent bonds and a suspicious intra-molecular hydrogen bond to boot.  Steer well clear of the stuff, I'd say.

[Esme]

Water!  Dodgy stuff!!!  Never trust a chemical with molecular weight of only 18 which manages to remain in liquid or solid form until 100 degs Celsius (at 1 atmosphere of pressure).  Add to that : the solid form floats on the liquid form which is denser at 4 degs C than it is below that.  Two covalent bonds and a suspicious intra-molecular hydrogen bond to boot.  Steer well clear of the stuff, I'd say.

Hee hee - it's ok for washing in but just to be on the safe side best stick to alcohol for drinking...

[mushroom]

   

another annoyance is the way that the word "chemical" has become synonymous with the word "bad". Everything is made of chemicals!! "£$%^&*&$%£$%^&!!!!

[WG.]

best stick to alcohol for drinking...

Yeah, at least C2H5OH behaves like a proper molecule.    Too much though & the researcher behaves like a proper idiot!    

[Scribbler]

Two things.

If water didn't behave in this odd way there would be no life on the planet at all. Don't know where I picked up that gem though.

And organic is generally acknowledged as meaning using no "artificial" weedkillers, fertilisers or insecticides. So beer instead of slug pellets etc., soapy water for aphids and compost to feed the soil. In tune with nature an all that.

But there again, life is rarely that simple, and there's bound to be somebody out there who will differ.

. yeh but isnt real friendly debating .. FUN  and actually sand is better to wash in than water .it defoliates the skin as well