Imidacloprid: Bayer Fruit Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control
Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide that can be added to water at transplant, to provide control of aphids (and some other insects) for most of the growing season.
A common problem is that the most readily available imidacloprid concentrates are so concentrated (intended to be mixed with enough water to treat acres at a time) that it is difficult to measure the tiny quantity required for a typical home tobacco grower. And these microscopic quantities are prone to computational errors.
Bayer Advanced Fruit Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control contains only 0.235% imidacloprid. This particular formulation is intended for use with fruit trees and edible garden vegetables. For all fruit-bearing vegetables (peper, eggplant, tomato, etc.), the transplant dose is the same per square foot. Assuming the same dose for tobacco, it comes to about 5.3 full-size tobacco plants per ounce of product, or roughly 170 full-size tobacco plants per 32 ounce bottle.
The calculated dose (say 3 oz., for one of my 5' x 12' [16 plant] beds) of product is measured using the included measuring cup--that square cap on the bottle, and simply added to any size watering can with water. This is evenly watered into the designated bed. The imidacloprid is used only once, at transplant time. For veggies, the pre-harvest delay is 21 days, so little if any imidacloprid should remain in tobacco by the time the 60-90 day maturation period is completed.
This is not the cheapest way to go, unless you would have to purchase a precision balance to measure out the alternative imidacloprid compounds. It is convenient, much safer, and uncomplicated. A single 32 oz. bottle of the 0.235% solution should suffice for 1 growing season for the typical home grower.
Bayer Advanced Fruit Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control is difficult to find locally, but can be purchased on-line via Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bayer-Fruit-Citrus-and-Vegetable-Insect-Control-Concentrate/16778336 for $24.10 + free shipping.
Bob
Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide that can be added to water at transplant, to provide control of aphids (and some other insects) for most of the growing season.
A common problem is that the most readily available imidacloprid concentrates are so concentrated (intended to be mixed with enough water to treat acres at a time) that it is difficult to measure the tiny quantity required for a typical home tobacco grower. And these microscopic quantities are prone to computational errors.
Bayer Advanced Fruit Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control contains only 0.235% imidacloprid. This particular formulation is intended for use with fruit trees and edible garden vegetables. For all fruit-bearing vegetables (peper, eggplant, tomato, etc.), the transplant dose is the same per square foot. Assuming the same dose for tobacco, it comes to about 5.3 full-size tobacco plants per ounce of product, or roughly 170 full-size tobacco plants per 32 ounce bottle.
The calculated dose (say 3 oz., for one of my 5' x 12' [16 plant] beds) of product is measured using the included measuring cup--that square cap on the bottle, and simply added to any size watering can with water. This is evenly watered into the designated bed. The imidacloprid is used only once, at transplant time. For veggies, the pre-harvest delay is 21 days, so little if any imidacloprid should remain in tobacco by the time the 60-90 day maturation period is completed.
This is not the cheapest way to go, unless you would have to purchase a precision balance to measure out the alternative imidacloprid compounds. It is convenient, much safer, and uncomplicated. A single 32 oz. bottle of the 0.235% solution should suffice for 1 growing season for the typical home grower.
Bayer Advanced Fruit Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control is difficult to find locally, but can be purchased on-line via Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bayer-Fruit-Citrus-and-Vegetable-Insect-Control-Concentrate/16778336 for $24.10 + free shipping.
Bob