Best Time to Apply Fungicides?

[John@]

My experience with gtowing crops like cucumber and watermelon has been a disaster because I didn't applied fungicides to control diseases. And one bad thing is that these diseases normally take hold during periods of constant rainfall and drizzles. So I'm wondering if fungicides will be helpful under such condition. Who knows how I can effectively apply fungicides to control diseases?

[Manger]

I don't farm cukes, but i know you shud apply fungicides preventively when diseases have not been detected. For cukes and watermelon, start applying when they start running and apply every 7-10 days. Check the manufacturer's recommendation.

[Henlus]

There are 2 classes of fungicides - contact and systemic fungicides. Contact fungicide will remain on the plant surface and prevent fungi from entering the plant. So with this class of fungicide, it is important that you cover the whole plant surfaces - cover both top and bottom surfaces of leaves.
..
Systemic fungicides on the other hand will enter the plant system and work from inside the plant. So total coverage is not that important.
..
When there is constant rain, contact fungicides are not effective because rain can wash them off. So systemic fungicides are better in that situation.
...
As for best time to spray, here is what I find out: apply contact fungicides when the leaves are dry and when it is sunny. Under this atmospheric condition, the contact fungicide will strongly attach itself to the leaves and resist wash-off by light rains. I've experienced this in my cucumber farm. For systemic fungicides, apply them when the weather is wet and humid. Under this condition, the waxy layer covering the plant surfaces will be swelled up, allowing the fungicide to easily enter the plant. Under dry conditions the waxy coating is less permeable. Any systemic fungicide that is not absorbed will breakdown under the sun, washed off by rain or destroyed by microbes.

[Sendrix]

@Henlus, thanks for all your useful answers and threads. Can u pls tell use examples of systemic and contact fungicides? Esp. the ones we can buy in nigeria.

[Henlus]

Eg of contact fungicides include mancozeb, copper-based fungicides and chlorothalonil. systemic ones include carbendazim, hexaconazole, tricyclazole (rice), myclobitanil, penconazole, flutriafol, metalaxyl etc. You can buy some of these from Jubaili Agrotec www.jubailiagrotec.com.
.
Also note that systemic fungicides shud be tank-mixed with contact fungicides to prevent the fungi from developing resistance to the systemic fungicide.

[Kiwi]

Pls who knows where I can buy fungicide in anambra state?

[Henlus]

Pls who knows where I can buy fungicide in anambra state?

Check sokoto rd @ Main MKT Onitsha. Those selling herbicides, insecticides etc will have some of them. Of you can buy inbulk buy from Jubaili Agrotec.

[Sendrix]

Eg of contact fungicides include mancozeb, copper-based fungicides and chlorothalonil. systemic ones include carbendazim, tricyclazole (rice), myclobitanil, penconazole, flutriafol, metalaxyl etc. You can buy some of these from Jubaili Agrotec www.jubailiagrotec.com.

Nice lists. Tnks.

[Sendrix]

Eg of contact fungicides include mancozeb, copper-based fungicides and chlorothalonil. systemic ones include carbendazim, tricyclazole (rice), myclobitanil, penconazole, flutriafol, metalaxyl etc. You can buy some of these from Jubaili Agrotec www.jubailiagrotec.com.

Nice lists. Tnks.

[John@]

Thanks @Henlus. I'm greatful.

[Henlus]

There are other fungicides I know but i've not seen them in nigeria, though they can be imported. They include:
..
1. Zampro (contains ametoctradin and dimethomorph)
.
2. Previcure flex (propamocarb hcl)
.
3. Ranman (cyazofamid)
.
4. Gavel 75WG (zoxamide and mancozeb)
.
5. Presidio 4FL (fluopicolide)
.
6. Tanos (famoxadone and cymoxanil).
.
You can use the following fungicide program to combat many diseases that affect cucumber. Apply at 5-7 days interval. When disease appear, apply at 5 days interval:
1. Zampro - (after 5-7 days apply tanos) - (after 5-7 days apply gavel)
2. Ranman - tanos - gavel
3. Presidio - tanos - ranman
4. Presidio - previcure flex - ranman
5. Ranman - tanos - gavel
6. Presidio - tanos - gavel
7. Presidio - gavel - ranman
8. Presidio - previcur flex - zampro.
.
For any program u choose to follow, mix each fungicide with Bravo or Mancozeb to prevent resistant strains from developing. For example if you'll follow program 2, do this: mix ranman and bravo or mancozeb and spray. After 5-7 days mix tanos and bravo or mancozeb and spray. After another 5-7 days, mix gavel and bravo or mancozeb and spray. After another 5-7 days, start afresh from ranman and bravo or mancozeb and repeat the cycle.

[John@]

Henlus, ur last post is da bomb. Thanks a lot. What are importers waiting for?