Immunox on apricot question

My main question is at was state of bud development I need to apply immunox, there are to picture references in original post.

The second stage of the apricots in this chart, swollen buds. I think you can do it this week. I just sprayed mine today.

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Yes, that what I was looking at. But label says when petals are visibleā€¦

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If you want to wait for first white (3rd pic) that would be the perfect timing.

In spraying, the weather is not always cooperate so my rule is a bit too early is better than a bit too late.

Anyway, checking our weather, you may be able to wait until our next sunny days which are these Thurs or Fri to spray. By then , your apricot is probably at first white stage.

You can spray then.

Thursday is wet. Best bet is Friday, but as well it may be too late alreadyā€¦

Besides rain, I always check wind speed. Thatā€™s why I decided to spray early today. Wind today is not as strong as it will be on Fri.

My apricot is only at 2nd stage (swollen buds) but I would rather not wait. Since you are half a zone colder, I feel you could wait if you choose too.

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Now Iā€™m confused (for a change :dizzy_face:). . . I thought it is not a good idea to spray open blossoms - with anything? Because of pollinator protection. So - these fungicides will not hurt pollinators?

Itā€™s obvious that insecticides not be used . . .

Iā€™ve decided to spray my pomegranates with a fungicide, at bloom, this year . . . at the recommendation of that U of F fungal prevention study. At this point - Iā€™ve nothing to lose. In fact - Iā€™m blasting the entire plant and the ground beneath them, at all stages, to try to get at most of the harboring stuff . . . before it can do damage. I will rotate several different ones. Copper. Serenade. Immunox. Infuse. (I donā€™t have Indar)
But . . . I still read in lots of other information ā€˜Do Not Spray Anything During Bloomā€™.

So, whatā€™s the deal?

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Combined with pruning ,dormant spray, and spray before bud break/swell (depends on variety), there is little need to spray during blooming.

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@PomGranny Yes fungicides can harm bees. That includes fungicides that have low acute toxicity to honey bees. For example, Daconil has low acute toxicity to bees but is toxic to honey bee broods (honey bee young) and to native bee species. Ideally, you would avoid spraying fungicides during bloom.

But that puts many of us with high disease pressure in a difficult position since spraying during bloom is often recommended by Universities and may be necessary if disease pressure is high. So what can you do? You donā€™t want to kill bees and you donā€™t want to lose your crop. Well certain fungicides are harmful to bees and others are not.

Captan- harmful to honey bee brood and native bee species

Daconil-harmful to honey bee brood and native bee species

Immunox- not harmful to honey bee brood and native bee species

Indar- not harmful to honey bee brood and native bee species

So at bloom you would be best off spraying Immunox or Indar if you want to protect your bee population. Or if you can, avoid spraying during bloom altogether. But both Immunox and Indar are susceptible to fungus developing resistance so it is wise to alternate them with Daconil or Captan to avoid developing resistance. Or when the trees are not in bloom mix in Daconil or Captan with Indar/Immunox to avoid creating resistance.

Here is a link to a University of California webpage that allows you to check if your fungicide is toxic to bees. It also allows you to check herbicides, insecticides, and other agriculture chemicals.

Bee precaution pesticide ratings / University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM)

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Where Iā€™m at,when the Prunus are blooming,only a few bees are flying around.Maybe a small number of Bumbles and the Masons are still sleeping.There are no Honeybees around,throughout the year.So,itā€™s fairly safe to use something like Captan.
Iā€™ve read that some chemicals can be applied towards evening,when the insect activity has slowed.

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