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San Antonio, Texas

Hello all, I am going to do some indirect seed planting to get a head start for the season.

What type of fungicide should I use and dilution ratio?

How long should I soak the seeds?

Thanks!
Brett

1/16/2006 11:37:58 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I guess this depends on what diseases we're concerned with. Most folks who treat seeds here dust the seed directly with dry Captan. Commercial growers usually use Apron.

Go to this link & search APRON

http://www.cdms.net/manuf/products.asp

Then ask more questions so we can steer you in the right direction.

1/17/2006 12:33:25 PM

Eau Claire, WI

I see that Captan is on the list of fungicides that inhibits Mycorrhyzia. I decided not to use Captan on the seeds this year because of this.

1/17/2006 1:02:39 PM

San Antonio, Texas

I am mostly concerned with damping-off and powdery mildew. I was thinking about Captan, are there any organic fungicides out there?

1/17/2006 10:37:57 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Usually a well drained seed starting mix with just a touch of moisture won't give us damping off problems especially is the seed is soaked in a 50/50 hydrogen peroxide/water bath for a few hours.

Powdery Mildew is best dealt with using fungicide in-season. Seed treatments won't last into this time of year.

1/17/2006 11:38:12 PM

San Antonio, Texas

Tremor,

So what does the 50/50 hydorgen peroxide/H2O solution actually do for the seed? How does it inhibit the damping-off issue? Just curious.... Brett

1/20/2006 12:03:33 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Most AG growers pre-soak the seeds for 4-8 hours at about 85° F to hydrate them. Adding Hydrogen Peroxide (the regular 3% pharmacy grade) increases the Oxygen but it also kills a lot of pathogens that might cause damping off diseases.

If we combine this strategy with a sterile srarting mix (that is not water logged) then there are very few cases of damping off diseases ever reported.

Some do combine this method with a fungicide dusting. However many more are now starting to pretreat ther seeds with Tricoderma &/or Mycorrhyzal inoculants. Some fungicides would damage the inoculants so given all the other precautions the fungicide is getting skipped.

1/20/2006 7:36:23 AM

San Antonio, Texas

Do you think dusting with Captan or another fungicide in addition to the above mentioned solution is too much or just another preventative measure to ensure good a good start?

1/21/2006 9:51:31 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Many folks do both & it doesn't hurt the seed any. I did too for a couple years. I stopped the Captan treatments when I started using inoculants & have never noticed a difference.

1/22/2006 12:17:42 AM

Brighton, MI

you can also use simple mouth wash to fend off fungus. It works I also spray it on the plant as a pesticide. You can add some to the water 3-4 tablesppons per gallon to fend off damp off or other mildew problems and it is safe. While in the green house mosture builds up, I have used this for 20 years with my plants and never had a problem. Only use this when you notice a problem. This as well as peroxide will kill all good and bad bacteria.

2/7/2006 1:55:28 PM