An organic alternative to fungicides ....

[Nicos]

I was talking to an organic brewer the other day who grows his own hops and he mentioned the use of copper wire to help prevent fungal problems.

He said he gets pieces of old electricity wire and strips off the plastic cover- then makes a interlacing framework over the top of the hops- so when it rains the raindrops splash off the copper wire, thus 'treating' the plants.

He said it should also work for spuds, tomaoes, small fruit trees ( eg peach)

I'd never heard of this so I thought I'd share it with you!

I have heard of threading a 3" piece of copper wire through a tomato stem- and also pushing a small copper coin into the side of the stem .
Old copper wire seems to be the cheaper option!

Anyone tried any of these methods with potatoes or tomatoes- or even a small fruit tree/bush??

[roitelet]

Iv'e done the copper wire through the stem of tomatoes thing and it seems so work.

[binley100]

Be interesting to see if it works on a peach.......probably have to go and raid a scrappie to find some tho'

[Thelma Sanders]

It's just the same as spraying with Bordeaux mixture - it's just the rain that is adding the water drops

[mothhawk]

What a really interesting idea. Extrapolating a bit, since most domestic water pipes in the UK are copper, would that mean that using tap water to water the plants decreases the chances of fungal attack? Or (since I don't think copper metal is water soluble), is it the oxidised copper that splashes off in the rain that works the magic?

And is that why there is less occurrence of Legionnaires disease in the UK than in the US, because the bacteria is killed by our copper piping?

[mothhawk]

It's just the same as spraying with Bordeaux mixture - it's just the rain that is adding the water drops

Bordeaux mixture drips off into the soil and kills beneficial fungi. Will the same thing happen with copper wire? Goes off to goggle....

[mothhawk]

Where can I get copper door handles.....? (the latest thing to prevent spread of bacteria). Will be recommending copper push plates and locks on the lavatory doors at work too

eta: all over the place apparently, new and antique. In some ways "the old days" had us beat hands down

[Nicos]

When we were installing our new shower here we were advised to use copper piping and not the new plastic pipes. Yup- copper is much more expensive to install- but is apparently much more hygienic as when the water sits in the copper tubing the water is ...quote...'cleansed' by the copper. ...thereby reducing the risk of receiving a face full of 'germs/bacteria/fungal spores' ...espesh if you are the first person in 2 weeks to have a shower.

...that's something to think about isn't it????

[Thelma Sanders]

...that's something to think about isn't it????

What- showering more often?

[Two_Sheds]

when it rains the raindrops splash off the copper wire, thus 'treating' the plants.

But ... the copper isn't dissolving into the water. If it was, the copper would eventually disappear, having totally dissolved.

[Nicos]

..hmmm...I don't understand the science of it- but apparently it works.

[Snadger]

I've heard of stringing a length of copper wire over the outside peak of a polytunnel to stop algi/fungi forming on the plastic sheet.
TS I think copper piping does abrade with water flowing through it over a number of years.
I also understand that the large copper and brass containers used in India etc to store water DO help to sterilise the water to some extent...........
I use a brass coal scuttle to give my chooks water and it never seems to get algi on it like the Belfast sinks or plastic containers.
Off on a tangent again, I believe that the reason our ancestors never suffered from iron defficiency was because they used cast iron cooking utensils (or worked in a steel works as I did)

[Thelma Sanders]

some of the houses along the terrace have copper wires on the ridges to stop moss growing on the old tiles.

[Olorin2001]

If you hammer copper spikes into trees they die, and isn't Bordeaux mixture classed as organic? it's only copper sulphate, slaked lime and water.

[bearded bloke]

isn't Bordeaux mixture classed as organic?

Yes & no,there is a finite application rate (which determines it's theoretical organicness),copper sulphate is a "heavy metal element" & as such can build up in the soil,excessive build up is can cause liver, kidney and blood disease.So not everything labelled organic is quite as organic as you would assume it to be.