Spraying UNDERSIDE of vegetable plant leaves

[JDgreen227]

Every vegetable plant pesticide I have used such as Sevin, as well as a multitude of online sites, advise us to be sure, quote: "to spray the UNDERSIDES of leaves...".

HOW does one accomplish that? I have never found a tank sprayer that has a nozzle except straight, if one had a nozzle that could be adjusted to a "U" shape that would help with some plants, but my pumpkin plant vines cover a 35 foot square area and even if I had such a nozzle I couldn't possibly get close enough to spray the undersides of leaves except on the outer edges, because I would have to trample on the vines.

Does anyone here have a method to spray leaf undersides? I tried bending a brass sprayer nozzle one time to a curved shape and all that did was destroy the nozzle.

 

[magicheater]

copper tubing may be an answer if the OD's match up. Are Organic methods viable for you so spraying may not be needed?

 

[ray66v]

I grow water melons, and was quite frustrated by the inability to get a through coat of fungicide, on the leaves. I finally realized that I needed a powerful sprayer to accomplish this. No pump sprayer will easily get this done with developed plants.

I have a 6 GPM gas powered tank sprayer. Using a 90+ psi stream, and a gun like a pressure washer, from 20 feet away all the leaves flip up when you spray them. It's almost funny to watch. Makes short work of jobs like this, that would otherwise be difficult.

Don't expect similar results with an electric sprayer, to do this is going to require spending money, or getting a good deal on a used one.

I would not mind a PTO driven unit, even bigger than I have. It would make spraying the lawn faster.

 

[JDgreen227]

copper tubing may be an answer if the OD's match up. Are Organic methods viable for you so spraying may not be needed?

Thanks for the query...would much prefer to go organic so pesticides not required but here (Mid-Michigan) I doubt it will ever be possible. And ray66v...what a solution you suggested...now I am going to try using a handheld electric blower to see if it flips the leaves...what a solution you have found !!!

 

[ray66v]

now I am going to try using a handheld electric blower to see if it flips the leaves...

I must say, that is a brilliant idea. :applause:

Let us know how it works for you.

 

[Don87]

I use this sprayer. Shop Roundup 2-Gallon Deluxe Plastic Tank Sprayer at Lowes.com

It has a curved wand and 3 dirrerent nozzles. The 'fan' nozzle works the best for me.

But I do walk on my toes to get through the vines on the melons and cukes.