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Bemidji Minnesota

"Bayer Tree and Shrub"

Will the tomatoes be edible?

This year in my Garden, my tomatoes will be staked to my fence poles, and an AG will be growing in the middle (879 Zoellner), and I am considering using "Bayer Tree and Shrub" as a systemic pest control agent, as last year I had a rough go with the SVB’s. I am also planning on using regular applications of Sevin carefully applied to the vine, which I don’t want to have to bury (had some rot issues in the past).

Now, some of the "Bayer Tree and Shrub" gets absorbed by the tomato plant roots, will the fruits still be edible? Or does the systemic poison only effect roots/plants?

I will not be planting any root plants, or veggies in this garden this year, so my only concern is if the tomatoes will be edible. If not I may just use the Sevin sparingly.

4/4/2009 7:19:03 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

MH320, Hopefully Tremor will chime in here, but I think I have seen him post in the past that the maters will be totally safe to eat!!! Wait to hear from the PRO, tho!!! Peace, Wayne

4/4/2009 9:03:25 PM

Fresno, Ca

The systemic will go throughout the plant. When using the commercially available version on crops they usually figure a 30 day withdrawl time at least here in CA. We have strict rules like that. However I can't imagine you would be too bad off as long as you are careful in not spreading directly on the tomatoes.

4/5/2009 6:24:22 PM

Going Green

Called the customer service number on the bottle and was told that the fruit was save to eat. Asked about waiting for 30 days after last application and was told that it wouldn't hurt but wasn't necessary. That the amount in the fruit itself would be so minute thjat it was not harmful if consumed. That the systemic isecticide stays in the vining and not in the fruit! Anyway...that is what I was told Saturday when I called!

4/5/2009 9:52:03 PM

Going Green

Safe....I just can't spell!

4/5/2009 9:52:55 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

Thanks m3f2.

Great news!

I will not be putting any of it right at the base of the tomatoes either, so they should have less absorbed than the AG vine to begin with.

4/5/2009 11:30:15 PM

Pataskala,OH

They use it on alot of the produce at the store. But really there is no reason to use systemics on tomatoes.

4/6/2009 3:13:39 PM

Colorado Springs, CO

Agree !.....There is NO reason to use systemics on tomato plants. Use beneficial nematodes in the soil if you have soil-borne insect concerns, and apply them with ample time to do their work and not later in the season.

Spray foliar applications of compost tea, or wormcasting tea, or liquid fish & seaweed at differing intervals during the season.

Which came first ?.....the SVB, or the egg of a(nother) SVB ? Where do they come from ? Where do they "spend the winter months" ? Fight those terrorists where they live and hide so they can't reproduce a next generation. I apologize for not having SVB problems in my gardens, therefore, I can not fully identify with your concerns. What does you state univ. extension data say about SVB's ?

I would never want to eat any tomato that has been introduced to Imidacloprid !

4/11/2009 11:33:58 PM

Ohio

Tomato Man, not meaning this to be in a bad way, which really Im meaning this in a great way actually, but are you related to Doc Gipe?,,,lol!! Hes totally for Organic growing and will preach it untill hes blue in the face,,lol!!!!!!.
I miss his posts! You two would get along great on here,,lol. I dont know if you know Tremor(Steve) on this site,,,, but dont take Tremor(Steve) the wrong way on here when he posts, ok?,,lol!!!!!

4/12/2009 5:19:58 AM

Long Island,New York

People should be wary of who they take advice from.

4/12/2009 9:39:36 AM

Bemidji Minnesota

Tomato Man,

I am not planning on using the systemic directly on the tomato plants, only the giant pumpkin vines. SVB's have ruined several AG for me in the past, and last year killed all of my Hubbards, my zucchinis, C.Pepo pumpkins, and even an acorn squash plant. They were not getting as delicate care with sevin as my AG, but even weekly applications of sevin were not 100% effective at keeping the borers out of the AG either. I had to resort to injecting with sevin into parts of the vine due to the borer infestation.

My neighbors don’t do anything to their gardens to kill SVB’s . The SVB’s are coming in to my garden no matter what. That is why I intend to use the bayer tree and shrub on my pumpkin.

The tomato plants will be sharing the same garden with my AG, and will be growing along the fence poles. So, I will not be directly applying the Bayer to them, but they likely will absorb some of it indirectly. That is why I asked if it would make the fruit non-edible. I do not plan to apply it to them directly however.

4/12/2009 3:38:46 PM

Ohio

Meathead, here is some info I found on posts here over the years that I saved when using Merit/Bayer Tree and Shrub.

Bayer tree / shrub is the same active ingredient (Imidacloprid).

Bayer T/S as a drench: 204 tsp / 1000 sqft or 4.25 cups.

Bayer T/S as foliar: 5.10 tsp / per gallon.



'Steve Jepsen'(Tremor) on Merit WP Use:

4 level teaspoons to cover 1000 sq ft regardless of the water. Think of the volume of water as a car carrying four passangers on a one mile journey. The same 4 passengers could also ride in a bus (more water), but the distance travled is still the same.

It's the water applied afterward that matters. A slow & gentle watering that siaks in without puddles is critical to placing the material in contact with roots.

4 teaspoons in 1-2 gallons is confortable for most people. But first timers should spray an entire 1000 sq ft area with plain water first to discover how much water will work for them.

There is no right or wrong amount of water to use. Just so long as it is applied evenly & in the same volume every time.

4/13/2009 4:48:55 AM

Bemidji Minnesota

thanks brooks, you answered the next question I was going to ask before I had to. I will only need 2 level teaspoons then... I think I may apply by hand very carefully.

What about how often it needs to be re-applied? Once every couple weeks as the vine grows longer and sends down more roots??

4/13/2009 10:39:58 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Brooks, incredible set of info...put into very understandable set of measures, & how to's!!!Can you do it again w/ Merit 75 WP as the active agent!!?? Peace, Wayne

4/13/2009 9:33:34 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

It is suppose to have an active life cycle of 60 days..should only need to be applied twice during the season.

4/14/2009 8:00:38 AM

Bemidji Minnesota

Thanks Linus, that helps me a lot

4/14/2009 10:33:52 AM