Disease Management - Growing Organic Orchard Fruits - page 479

1. Add 10 tablespoons of dry hydrated lime to ⁄ 2 gallon of water

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and agitate the mix.

2. Allow the suspension to set for 2 hours.

3. Add 3 ⁄ tablespoons of copper sulfate to ⁄ 2 gallon of water and

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agitate the mix.

4. Mix the hydrated lime suspension and copper sulfate solution to-
gether.

Lime Sulfur

Also known as calcium polysulfide, lime sulfur combines lime and sulfur to
make an effective fungicide that also has some effectiveness against bacter-
ia and insects. Lime sulfur ranks with Bordeaux mix in its value for organic
orchards and is especially effective in controlling peach leaf curl. Commer-
cial lime sulfur products are readily available. Certified organic growers must
be sure the products they use are allowed by their certifying organization.

Sulfur and Crop Oils

Crop (horticultural) oils, which we will discuss in chapter 11 ➔ (see page
380 ➔ ), are valuable in controlling a wide range of pests. Some crop oils are
also effective as fungicides. Stylet oil, for example, proved effective against
powdery mildew on currants. OMRI presently lists one fungicidal oil product
and many horticultural oils for insect and mite control.
While sulfur and crop oils are valuable components of an organic orchard
pest and disease control program, they should not be used together. In gener-