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figpig_66

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
BEING I LIVE IN SOUTH LOUISIANA WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH RUST. UPSETS ME EVERY YEAR
SO THIS YEAR I BOUGHT LIQUID COPPER AND MIXED IT MYSELF KIND OF STRONG. JUST A BIT STRONGER THAN THE DIRECTIONS SAID.
MY 30 IN GROUND FIGS ARE BREAKING BUD SO I SPRAYED THE TRUNK AND EVERY BRANCH AND THE GROUND BEFORE THEY LEAF OUT IT WAS RATHER EASY WITH MY TWO GALLON PUMP SPRAYER. FROM WHAT I READ BUYING CONCENTRATED LIQUID COPPER IS THE BEST. I READ YOU CAN MIX IN POWDERED LIME BUT DIDNT ADD ANY. I AM GOING TO SPRAY AGAIN IN 2 WEEKS AND GO FROM THERE.
RICHIE FROM LOUISIANA
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RICHIE BONI
HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID
WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity
Wish list. Col de dame blanc
Col de rimada
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SuperMario1

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Keep us posted Richie. I had some rust spread through my yard last year. It sure was ugly, but the trees still made tasty fruit.
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Wish list:  Galicia Negra, Violetta, Violette de Sollies, Dan_la's Black Beauty 10, Craven's Craving, Most important: YOUR FAVORITE FIG. A lot of people put emphasis on popular/exotic cultivars, which is great because it highlights some of the better fig varieties; however, I am most interested in the figs our members love regardless of pedigree. 
Currently Growing: a bunch of varieties.




figpig_66

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Yea it doesn't hurt the,fruit. But i really like my white ischia. It really big and loojs so nice in the beginning of the year the rust hits it and all the rest of my trees. Very upsetting to me.
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RICHIE BONI
HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID
WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity
Wish list. Col de dame blanc
Col de rimada
Lsu numbered figs
brianm

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Thanks for the reminder Richie. Last year rust showed up but mostly in fall
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levar

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Violette de Bordeaux has probably had some of the worst sensitivity to rust where I am. I think Flanders and UCR 291-4 are coming for that crown, though.

I've used copper fungicide concentrate for the past few years and I've applied it so consistently, I'm not even sure how well it works - lol. My yard isn't exactly the kind of place where it'd be advantageous to keep a control plant. And when it comes to disease prevention, I do as I'm told.
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Figs: Fiaschetta lunga di Campagnola, Unk Pastiliere, Cajun Gold, Marangiana, Rigato del Salento, Black Ischia, St. Rita, Dottato d'Élia, Watt's Zingarella, Zidi, Macool, 187-25, Peter's Honey, Peloponnisiaka aspra sika, and Martinenca Rimada.

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lifigs

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
I had rust issue last year for the first time. I sprayed each potted plant at the end season with a copper fungicide. I will probably re spray them before I put them back out just to be on the safe side. I plan on also spraying the ground where I usually keep the fig nursery.
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Bill Long Island (Nassau) 7a,NY

Wish List: Sicilian Red, RdB, JH Adriatic, Sal's EL and any fig from Bari.
rmulhero

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
I was wondering if anyone knew if the rust fungus lives/ hibernates in the soil? I am just wondering if its related to tomato blight, which lives in the soil and when it rains will travel up to the plant, infecting it. Has anyone tried black plastic on the soil to reduce infection (used to reduce blight)? I received a celeste fig which was highly infected and nothing I did reduced the rust. This year since, the fig is still small I disinfected the branches with 10% bleach solution which will kill the fungus but if its lurking the soil then that's another story.
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Becky, zone 5
Growing: Hardy Chicago, VdB, Dessert King, Celeste, Green Ischia, Marseilles VS, Kathleen's Black, Red Sicilian, Adriatic JH, Violetta bayerfeinge, New Brunswick, Magnolia and Italian Honey.

Wishlist: Sicilian Black JR, Petite Negra, Sweet George, Lattarula, Sals Corleone (Gene),  Vasilika sika, Galicia negra, Dalmatie and any cold hardy fig.
figpig_66

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Treat soil with liquid copper.
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RICHIE BONI
HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID
WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity
Wish list. Col de dame blanc
Col de rimada
Lsu numbered figs
eaglet2

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
liquid copper is not a product, copper sulfate is what you probably used.  ($8.00 per lb).  it is soluble in water and is an old and effective rust preventive.  To neutralize the acidity lime is added  One formula is1-1-50   1lb copper sulfate 1 lb hydrated lime 50 gal water.  also UC Davis mix at
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7481.html  
this mix should help hold down tomato blight and was a common grape spray.  copper sulfate in a pond will kill alge and is used to kill roots in sewer pipes, I wouldn't use it as a soil drench or anything other than a spray on leaves, both sides  and branches.
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willei
waynea

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
http://www.amazon.com/Southern-Ag-Liquid-Copper-Fungicide/dp/B0052NL4FK

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Southern-Ag-1-Pt-Liquid-Copper-Fungicide-100048940/100599149
figpig_66

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Quote:
Originally Posted by waynea
http://www.amazon.com/Southern-Ag-Liquid-Copper-Fungicide/dp/B0052NL4FK

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Southern-Ag-1-Pt-Liquid-Copper-Fungicide-100048940/100599149

This is the one i use. Comes,with instructions of use. For example mix and use 3 gallons to treat soi . Also spray tree before its leaves develop paid six dollers at lowes.
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RICHIE BONI
HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID
WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity
Wish list. Col de dame blanc
Col de rimada
Lsu numbered figs
mgginva

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
I hate rust.
I consider my operation organic.
Copper is slowly being kicked out of the organic family in countries in Europe, for example.

I want to harvest leaves for tea to treat my diabetes and to allow others to try the tea as well.
I can not do this if the leaves are butt ugly with rust.

BUT - I also can't spray a bunch of copper and then harvest leaves either.
Folks have been claiming copper is a safe and organic treatment for decades but it is not. Well at least it is not completely harmless.
The issue is not a simple one and soil beneficials (bacteria, microorganisms, etc.) can be easily wiped out by copper, for example.

I'm not going to climb up on my soap box on this issue one way or the other (here at least) as I'm not an expert and my level of knowledge on this subject is "mid-level" at best. 
I do know it should be of concern to anyone using copper but whether my level of concern meets other's level of action is the question.
Just please do not buy the hype that copper is a completely safe and organic way to treat rust.

But,
How safe is copper? I don't know. That's the simple answer. 

How toxic is copper?
Should you stop using it? --- I don't know. I have never used it and do not intend to ever do so.
I am concerned about the fact our government does not protect us from ingesting hundreds if not thousands of toxins and doesn't test or plan to test a very very long list of dangerous substances we are exposed to every day. Where does copper land on that list. I don't know.

So,
Please do your homework and please try not to poison your friends and family - at least not on purpose.
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Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list:   Perretta, 
chrisb9341

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
I pulled a bottle off the shelf at the store where I work to look at it and the active ingredient is copper octanoate (copper soap} in case anyone wants to look into it further. Here is a fact sheet.

http://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/registration/fs_PC-023306_01-Jul-97.pdf
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Chris
Ballston Spa Ny Zone 5a
figpig_66

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mgginva
I hate rust.
I consider my operation organic.
Copper is slowly being kicked out of the organic family in countries in Europe, for example.

I want to harvest leaves for tea to treat my diabetes and to allow others to try the tea as well.
I can not do this if the leaves are butt ugly with rust.

BUT - I also can't spray a bunch of copper and then harvest leaves either.
Folks have been claiming copper is a safe and organic treatment for decades but it is not. Well at least it is not completely harmless.
The issue is not a simple one and soil beneficials (bacteria, microorganisms, etc.) can be easily wiped out by copper, for example.

I'm not going to climb up on my soap box on this issue one way or the other (here at least) as I'm not an expert and my level of knowledge on this subject is "mid-level" at best. 
I do know it should be of concern to anyone using copper but whether my level of concern meets other's level of action is the question.
Just please do not buy the hype that copper is a completely safe and organic way to treat rust.

But,
How safe is copper? I don't know. That's the simple answer. 

How toxic is copper?
Should you stop using it? --- I don't know. I have never used it and do not intend to ever do so.
I am concerned about the fact our government does not protect us from ingesting hundreds if not thousands of toxins and doesn't test or plan to test a very very long list of dangerous substances we are exposed to every day. Where does copper land on that list. I don't know.

So,
Please do your homework and please try not to poison your friends and family - at least not on purpose.

First how do i make tea from a fig leaf ? How do you treat rust. Ate the leaves first dried to make tea
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RICHIE BONI
HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID
WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity
Wish list. Col de dame blanc
Col de rimada
Lsu numbered figs
waynea

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
Good points and concerns are always welcome, sometimes we take things for granted without question.
figpig_66

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
spraying a chemical on a tree to prevent rust and it works. May not be a good thing. Maybe i shell stop doing this if copper is bad for us to ingest. The cure is worst then the disease.

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RICHIE BONI
HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID
WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity
Wish list. Col de dame blanc
Col de rimada
Lsu numbered figs
waynea

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
I spray my mango trees before the blooms open, both copper and sulfur, otherwise the fungus and mold will make the blooms fall off....limited fruit. Also, the sprays reduces the amount of black spots on the fruit. The copper and sulfur dissipate by the time of harvest. But information about these items is still welcome.
rmulhero

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
AHHH... it looks like my problem child Celeste fig still has rust (new leaves are showing signs of rust). I used almost an entire bottle of Bonfide's Copper treatment last summer :(. I have tried everything to get rid/ manage this- I guess I have learned my lesson. The only responsible thing to do now is to get rid of the thing before it infects the rest (I was hoping with summer it would be fine). Strangely enough one of the two branches shows no signs of rust (plant shaped like a V). Bye Celeste fig :(
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Becky, zone 5
Growing: Hardy Chicago, VdB, Dessert King, Celeste, Green Ischia, Marseilles VS, Kathleen's Black, Red Sicilian, Adriatic JH, Violetta bayerfeinge, New Brunswick, Magnolia and Italian Honey.

Wishlist: Sicilian Black JR, Petite Negra, Sweet George, Lattarula, Sals Corleone (Gene),  Vasilika sika, Galicia negra, Dalmatie and any cold hardy fig.
figpig_66

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Posted Reply with quote  #19 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rmulhero
AHHH... it looks like my problem child Celeste fig still has rust (new leaves are showing signs of rust). I used almost an entire bottle of Bonfide's Copper treatment last summer :(. I have tried everything to get rid/ manage this- I guess I have learned my lesson. The only responsible thing to do now is to get rid of the thing before it infects the rest (I was hoping with summer it would be fine). Strangely enough one of the two branches shows no signs of rust (plant shaped like a V). Bye Celeste fig :(
pull all leaves off. Copper doesnt cure rust but it prevents it from growing on ineffected trees. Pull all leaves off get rid of leaves dont through them on ground. Spray tree heavily not a mist. Spray all branches and ground. Mix 5 table spoons per gallon. This will help.
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RICHIE BONI
HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID
WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity
Wish list. Col de dame blanc
Col de rimada
Lsu numbered figs
Stormy

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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mgginva
I hate rust.
I consider my operation organic.
Copper is slowly being kicked out of the organic family in countries in Europe, for example.

I want to harvest leaves for tea to treat my diabetes and to allow others to try the tea as well.
I can not do this if the leaves are butt ugly with rust.

BUT - I also can't spray a bunch of copper and then harvest leaves either.
Folks have been claiming copper is a safe and organic treatment for decades but it is not. Well at least it is not completely harmless.
The issue is not a simple one and soil beneficials (bacteria, microorganisms, etc.) can be easily wiped out by copper, for example.

I'm not going to climb up on my soap box on this issue one way or the other (here at least) as I'm not an expert and my level of knowledge on this subject is "mid-level" at best. 
I do know it should be of concern to anyone using copper but whether my level of concern meets other's level of action is the question.
Just please do not buy the hype that copper is a completely safe and organic way to treat rust.

But,
How safe is copper? I don't know. That's the simple answer. 

How toxic is copper?
Should you stop using it? --- I don't know. I have never used it and do not intend to ever do so.
I am concerned about the fact our government does not protect us from ingesting hundreds if not thousands of toxins and doesn't test or plan to test a very very long list of dangerous substances we are exposed to every day. Where does copper land on that list. I don't know.

So,
Please do your homework and please try not to poison your friends and family - at least not on purpose.


Copper kills earth worms, especially if applied directly on the soil. I would avoid that!
Just spray the leafs, that will do the trick.

In Europe the use of copper sulfate is under debate, as is it a substance that remains in the soil for a long time. And let's not forget, copper is a heavy metal.
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Stormy
don_sanders

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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
Copper is also an essential trace element required for survival. From the little I know about it, poisoning the soil over time seems to be the bigger issue. According to some sources, copper isn't readily absorbed into the plants and fruit and can be washed off of the surface.

Just like most things, in the proper amounts, it's healthy. Over used and is toxic.
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Don - Columbus, OH. Zone 5b/6a Wish list: Rafed/Adriano's Genovese Nero, Your favorite fig.
rmulhero

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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
i will give it one more shot :)
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Becky, zone 5
Growing: Hardy Chicago, VdB, Dessert King, Celeste, Green Ischia, Marseilles VS, Kathleen's Black, Red Sicilian, Adriatic JH, Violetta bayerfeinge, New Brunswick, Magnolia and Italian Honey.

Wishlist: Sicilian Black JR, Petite Negra, Sweet George, Lattarula, Sals Corleone (Gene),  Vasilika sika, Galicia negra, Dalmatie and any cold hardy fig.
Figment

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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
Will the liquid copper fungicide burn the leaves of my figs in heat like neem oil? Or is the temperature not a factor?

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Matt
figpig_66

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Posted Reply with quote  #24 
I soaked my trees with it with no problems. But it was a few months ago. Spray a small area and test it. I dont think it can burn but dont want to be a cause of damaging your trees. Test it out. Great stuff.
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RICHIE BONI
HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID
WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity
Wish list. Col de dame blanc
Col de rimada
Lsu numbered figs
Figment

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Posted Reply with quote  #25 
I'm testing out 3 small trees that are in full sun. I'll know more tomorrow.
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Matt
Figment

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Posted Reply with quote  #26 
All 3 trees did well in full sun today. No burns or damage.
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Matt
figpig_66

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Posted Reply with quote  #27 
Good deal. It stays on for months. You will see iridescent color on leaves. I have much less rust. But i have over 50 inground trees last year i had rust everywhere. Now just a few leaves.
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RICHIE BONI
HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID
WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity
Wish list. Col de dame blanc
Col de rimada
Lsu numbered figs
SCfigFanatic

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Posted Reply with quote  #28 
I intentionally remove leaves from inside the fig tree leaf canopy.
This allows air circulation through out the plant.
Excessive moisture that does not get dried out naturally will
increase the rust problem. I have never sprayed anything for rust.
Leaves will fall off others will grow in to replace them.
I have never had a problem with rust so long as the plant can let air through
freely.

Doug
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