Bordeaux mix - what's wrong with it?

[Newbiegrower1970]

And I'm going to france is it worth buying some? I lost all my tomatoes to late blight at the end of September

[Jungle Jane]

Doesn't it kill ladybirds etc?

[sparrow100]

It's had its licence withdrawn and is no longer legal to use in the UK. so discussion of this on a public forum is probably moot. I used to use it when it was legal - arguments from members on here persuaded me to change my mind.

Taken from the RHS website: The following products are being withdrawn:
Bordeaux Mixture (Vitax) is being withdrawn and cannot be sold after the 30th November 2014 and remaining stocks must be used or disposed of before the 30th November 2015.

Copper oxychloride (Bayer Garden Fruit and Vegetable Disease Control) is being withdrawn and cannot be sold after the 30th November 2014 and remaining stocks must be used or disposed of before the 30th November 2015.

[Newbiegrower1970]

Interesting. I thought illegal to buy it in the uk not necessarily to use it. Was it effective?

[sparrow100]

Was it effective?

No. It delayed the onset for a bit, but I'm on a large allotment site with plotholders who have busy lives so aren't down every day. Blight's endemic on our site. I now grow my tomatoes in a greenhouse, and only the blight resistant ones outside. My maincrop potatoes are Alouette/Sarpos for the same reason. Am very impressed with Crimson Crush tomatoes and I hope the 3 sideshoots in a glass on the windowsill make it through winter for next season.

[Cadalot]

You can always tread your tomatoes with soluble Asprin see Feed tomatoes ASPIRIN say scientists to fight disease and boost yield | Daily Mail Online They have not banned that yet.

[Nicos]

Interesting. I thought illegal to buy it in the uk not necessarily to use it. Was it effective?

I thought it was illegal to store it or use it in the UK after the end of 2015.

[sparrow100]

I thought it was illegal to store it or use it in the UK after the end of 2015.

That's correct.

RHS advice here: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=217 which includes:
'Chemical control
There are currently no fungicides available for use by gardeners against blight on potatoes or tomatoes.'

[Thelma Sanders]

Interesting. I thought illegal to buy it in the uk not necessarily to use it. Was it effective?

In theory you shouldn't be able to buy, or use it, it in any EU country - as the ban was an EUwide ban not a UK one.

[Nicos]

Was It?....hadn't realised that!
Not looked for it over here, but have to admit, that thinking about it, the baby cabbage plants at market this year weren't bright blue/green!

[Newbiegrower1970]

If it is bouille bordelaise then you can certainly buy it in France

[Mrs Bee]

In theory you shouldn't be able to buy, or use it, it in any EU country

This is true, but the French do seem to interpret the EU rules creatively.

[Nicos]

English customs wouldn't allow it through if they search you....but as mentioned earlier, You are not supposed to store or use it here, so you would be breaking the law.
Therefore I'm closing this thread.