Passion fruit spray program:

There are numerous spraying programs for passion fruit.

All these programs are unique in their own way.

Some are designed to spur fruit development, prevent disease, sweeten fruits, promote flowering etc.

The bottom line, whatever passion fruit spray program you adopt, it must be:

  • Effective
  • Affordable
  • Maximize yield and profit.
  • Friendly to the user and to the environment.

For us to achieve these objectives, we are going to use three pest control methods… instead of relying on chemical sprays only.

These pest control methods will be:

  • Organic,
  • Mechanical,
  • And finally chemical sprays.
A good passion fruit spray program will help you manage passion fruit diseases

Part 1: Organic Passion Fruit Spray Program

This spray program involves the cultivation and use of natural organisms like:

  • Bacteria,
  • Fungi,
  • Amoeba,
  • Protozoa, etc…

…to control nematodes, fungi and bacteria that harm or destroy plants.

This spray program works on the principle that a DISEASE OCCURS when one microorganism say, powdery mildew colonizes and completely takes over a plant.

A single harmful microorganism is able to achieve this when environmental conditions like humidity, warm, favor its growth and development over other microorganisms.

So…to prevent the takeover, by a single disease causing organism, we introduce millions of other microorganisms to compete with it.

“Isn’t this risky?”

You may ask.

It is not. Microorganisms are everywhere.

In our mouths, stomachs, environment, in cows’ stomachs, intestines and practically everywhere.

They are also used to ferment beer, yoghurt, milk, tea, coffee etc.

They become dangerous when a disease causing microorganism establishes a colony and dominates the rest.

Is Organic Disease Control Effective?

Oh Yes.

It is so effective that it controls over 90% of the disease causing microorganisms.

Because of the efficiency of this pest control system, organic farmers in USA, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and other places of the world are using it in their Organic Programs, to produce food without using industrial pesticides.

Unfortunately, many farmers do not know about this system.

What they’ve been taught to believe is, “Only industrial pesticides are able of controlling pest and disease.”

So how do you grow your own microorganisms, and how do you use them?

How to grow your Own Micro-organisms for Passion fruit spray Program

Materials:

  1. 100 grams of unrefined sea salt (if this is unavailable use Himalayan salt, that is sold in most Kenyan supermarkets or use 2 liters of sea water)
  2. 2 kg of boiled potatoes
  3. 2 kg of Soil collected from your farm. Collect this soil from a spot that has well decomposed leaves, and humus/ a spot where you expect to have had a lot of microorganism activity.
  4. 5 kg mix chopped Passion fruit leaves, grass, leaves from the surrounding plants.
  5. Plastic Container with lid
  6. 100 liters of water.
  7. 1meter Cotton cloth.
  8. Wire/nylon thread.
  9. Fine sieve

Procedure:

  1. Dissolve the 100 grams of unrefined sea/Himalayan salt in the 100 liters of water.
  2. Mash the 0.2 kg of boiled potatoes.
  3. Pour the mashed potatoes in the 100 liters of water
  4. Mix the 5 kg of chopped leaves, and 2 kilos of soil.
  5. Wrap this soil-leaf mix on the cotton cloth and tie it with the wire/nylon string to form a bag.
  6. Let the bag containing the soil-leaf mix hand in the water for 3-4 days.
How to know the Microorganism Solution is ready for Use

After 1 day, bubbles will start forming on the water.

The formation of bubbles is a sign that there is microbial activity.

Different bacteria are multiplying rapidly after feeding on the potato and micro nutrients in the sea salt.

In 3-4 days, the peak microbial activity will have been attained.

Observations:

  1. Day 1. Bubbles form on the water
  2. Day 2: Foam/Bubbles increase—indicating increased microbial activity. The microorganisms are multiplying rapidly as they feed on the potato and nutrient rich sea salt
  3. Day 3&4. Maximum microbial activity achieved. At this peak, there are 1 billion microbes per 1 ml of this solution.

Watch the video below to see how to make your own microbial solution for Passion fruit spray program

How to use the Microbial solution:

How to use it in a spray program:

  1. Filter the solution using a fine sieve if you intend to spray the solution on the crops.
  2. Filtering the solution will prevent the clogging of the sprayer.
  3. For every 18 liters of water in a knapsack, use 2 liters of this solution.
  4. Use a suitable agricultural sticker to reduce the surface tension of water, and increase the stickiness of the solution on plant leaves.
  5. Spray very early in the morning or late in the evening when evaporation is low.
  6. Spray weekly to prevent the development of diseases.

How to use the Solution in Irrigation Program:

Mix 1 liter of the solution for every 15 liters of water to irrigate seedling nurseries.

You can also dip seedlings in this water before transplanting.

Use a watering can to irrigate your seedling nursery with this water.

If you have a large farm where the use of a watering can is impractical, you can use a VENTURI to mix the solution with your irrigation water.

In this case, the solution will be much more dilute. However, you can apply the microbial solution more regularly.

This solution is known to be very cheap and effective way in controlling nematodes, bacterial canker, bacterial wilt in tomatoes, fusarium wilt, Pythium rot, and countless soil diseases affecting plants.

Part 2: Using Mechanical Methods to Trap and Kill Pests

Three years ago, I had an opportunity of visiting a company known as Real IPM.

This company is located in Thika, Kiambu county.

And its major business, is developing biological and mechanical ways of controlling insects.

I was very impressed by the work they were doing.

With my very own eyes I saw how the sticky traps, sticky tapes and other mechanical devices, they invented, captured many notorious insects like fruit flies, thrips, mites among others.

Then I got this idea.

“These devices can go a long way in controlling many pests.”

I am saying this because pest control is becoming a very expensive affair.

Some pesticides are sold for thousands of shillings.

For example, 1 liter of Thunder sells for Ksh 6,400/=.

I also saw another chemical (whose name I can’t remember selling for Ksh 14,000/= Per liter.

All these increased costs are signs that it might be unsustainable to use some agro chemicals.

Of course this method of pest control has its weaknesses.

It is not 100% efficient.

The traps may fail to attract and trap some insects. Instead give them an opportunity to head straight for the crops.

Therefore, this system should be used in combination of chemical methods.

By combining the two, you will use less pesticide.

You will help reduce the amount of pesticide being deployed to the environment.

If you are using this method of pest control to capture and kill insects, I encourage you to continue using it.

If you are not please consider using it.

Mechanical Pest Control Solutions Available in The Market

  • Roller traps
  • Sticky Traps
  • Monitrap
  • Sticktech blue
  • Sticktech yellow

The two companies in Kenya that sell these mechanical devices are:

How to Use the Traps

It’s very easy to use the traps.

All you need to do is hang them around your farm, within the rows of your plants, and you’ll be good to go.