Known for a long time, the natural fungicidal properties of sulfur make it possible to combat many fungi on fruit trees, small fruits and vines.

3 Uses Of Sulfur In The Garden

In the garden, sulfur has 3 different actions:

• It is a natural mineral fertilizer. Indeed, this trace element is essential for the growth of plants, vegetables and fruit trees because it is involved in the metabolism of amino acids. It can therefore be used in the vegetable garden at the foot of the vegetable or fruit trees. Regular additions of manure or sulfate-rich fertilizers such as patentkali help maintain soil sulfur content and prevent deficiencies.
• It is also a fungicidal phytosanitary product, used preventively as well as therapeutically to combat surface fungi, especially powdery mildew that covers the leaves and young buds with white downy mildew.
• Sulfur is after all a natural repellent of many insects: ants, small mites, mites of fruit crops (pear, vine)

When To Put Sulfur On Grapevines And Fruit Trees?

To be effective, it is necessary to wait for temperatures above 18°C. Indeed, from this temperature the sulfur sublimes to pass into the gaseous state. Its vapors then envelop the leaves and have a fungicidal effect.

But the smell emerging near the treated plants can be annoying and above all, above 28°C, the sulfur vapors can burn the young leaves.

The optimum time to use sulfur is therefore between March and the end of July, when temperatures are around 23 to 25°C.

Which Plants To Treat With Sulfur?

Sulfur is effective against all fungi on all fruit trees: against apple and pear scab, vine powdery mildew, purple spots on strawberries, powdery mildew on peaches, apricots and nectarines, etc.

It can also be sprayed on vegetable plants susceptible to powdery mildew: tomatoes and all plants of the cucurbit family (pumpkin, pumpkin, squash, cucumber, melon, etc.)

Finally, it is traditionally used on roses to combat Marsonia and powdery mildew.

Sulfur Powder Or Dust

Use Of Sulfur powder works by contact. The product is sprayed directly on the leaves and branches of the fruit trees to be treated using a blower or duster.

This treatment should be renewed regularly during plant growth or after heavy rain.

Recommended dosage: 20 g of product for 10 m2 of treated surface.

But for good adhesion to the sheets, it is generally associated with a wetting agent. This wettable sulfur must be diluted in water and sprayed. It works with both contact and steam to destroy fungi.

Here’s how to prepare and spray it:

• Fill the sprayer with the necessary volume of water (3 or 5 liters)
• Weigh and apply the recommended dose of sulphur: 7.5g per liter of water on fruit trees and vegetables and up to 20g per liter of water on vines.
• Close, shake and run the pump fifteen times to compress.

To be effective, the product must be sprayed on both sides of the leaves. Preferably, do your treatment early in the morning before the temperatures get too high. Choose a day with good weather, without wind.

The action of sulfur vapor is short: about 1 week. It is therefore recommended to renew the sprays regularly depending on the weather and the growth rate of your vine or fruit trees. Damp heat favors the growth of mildew.