NOTE: For the disease control products listed below, one product trade name and formulation is provided for each active ingredient (common name) as an example of rates, preharvest interval (PHI), restricted entry interval (REI), and special instructions. In many cases, there are other products available with the same active ingredient. Please see Table 25 and Fungicides and Bactericides Alphabetical Listing by Trade Name for more information on products with the same active ingredients.
The symbol OG indicates a product is listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) as approved for use in organic production. See Organic Certification section for more details.
PESTICIDE USE IN GREENHOUSES AND HIGH TUNNELS:
Pesticides can be used on high tunnel and greenhouse crops if: 1) the crop and pest/disease is on the label, AND the products specifically says it can be used in the greenhouse; OR 2) the crop and pest/disease is on the label, AND the product is ‘silent’ about use in the greenhouse in the greenhouse. Products that specifically prohibit greenhouse use cannot be used in greenhouses or high tunnels regardless of the crops or pests/diseases listed on the label.
See also: Table 19: Fungicides and Bactericides Labeled for Vegetable Bedding Plants.
Cladosporium leaf spot caused by Cladosporium variabile was previously considered to be of minor importance in spinach crops, but can be severe in spinach seed production and has become a common problem in winter high tunnel production. The most conducive environment for disease development is cool and moist with temperatures between 59-68ºF and relative humidity above 80%. However, the fungus can grow under a wide range of temperatures, ranging from 41-86ºF. The epidemiology of this disease is not well known. Spinach seeds carry the fungus, but it has not been determined whether the disease is transmitted via contaminated seed to soil or seedlings. It is also not known how long the fungus can survive on spinach residues in soil or in weed hosts. Cladosporium has been recovered from dried leaves and seed stocks up to eight years old. Cultural controls rely mainly on sanitation—the removal of infected plants, spinach debris, spinach volunteers, and unused seed. Start with certified, disease-free seed or treat seed with hot water or bleach to reduce seedborne inoculum. Cultivar susceptibility varies but is not currently reported by seed producers or distributors.
Bacillus mycoides isolate J (LifeGard WGOG): 1.0 to 4.5 oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group P6. Apply at first true leaf stage or after thinning. Refer to label for other appropriate rates and application volumes.
Downy mildew is considered the most important disease of spinach and is favored by cool, moist conditions. The pathogen is host-specific to spinach and will not survive without a living host. Incidence of the disease appears to be increasing due to the increased use of high tunnels for winter spinach production. The potential overlap of field spinach and high tunnel spinach can create a “green bridge” for the disease, allowing the pathogen to transfer between fields and high tunnels. As of April 2021, there are 19 numbered races of spinach downy mildew, along with numerous “novel” races. Downy mildew management relies on resistant cultivars, as well as managing relative humidity and leaf wetness. Select cultivars with resistance to races 1-19, if possible, and grow multiple cultivars that do not share the same gaps in resistance. Once infected, there is little that can be done to manage spinach downy mildew. The pathogen can produce long-lived resting spores, called oospores, that can potentially survive in the soil without a living host; however the role of oospores in season-to-season survival in New England is currently unknown. Rotate out of spinach for at least two years.
acibenzolar-S-methyl (Actigard 50WG): 1.0 to 0.75 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Group 21.
ametoctradin plus dimethomorph (Zampro): 14.0 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Groups 45 & 40. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
azoxystrobin (Quadris): 12.0 to 15.5 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group 11. Rotate with a fungicide other than a strobilurin. Quadris can by phytotoxic to spinach. See label for precautions. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain D747 (Double Nickel LCOG): 0.5 to 6.0 qt/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group 44.
copper hydroxide (Kocide 3000): 0.75 to 1.25 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 48h, Group M1. Flecking may occur.
copper oxychloride plus copper hydroxide (Badge X2OG): 0.75 to 1.25 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 48h, Group M1. Flecking may occur. See label for precautions.
cyazofamid (Ranman 400SC): 82.75 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Group 21.
cymoxanil (Curzate 60 DF): 5.0 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Group 27. Use only in combination with a protectant fungicide.
famoxadone plus cymoxanil (Tanos): 8.0 to 10.0 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Groups 11 & 27. Must be tank mixed with an appropriate contact fungicide with a different mode of action. Do not alternate or tank mix with other Group 11 fungicides.
fenamidone (Reason 500 SC): 5.5 to 8.2 fl oz/A; PHI 2d, REI 12h, Group 11. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
fluopicolide (Presidio): 3.0 to 4.0 fl oz/A; PHI 2d, REI 12h, Group 43. Must be used in a tank mix with a fungicide with a different mode of action. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin (Merivon): 6.0 to 11.0 fl oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Groups 7 & 11. For suppression only. Do not apply as tank mix with other pesticides or anything other than water (for spinach). Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
fosetyl aluminum (Aliette WDG): 2.0 to 5.0 lb/A; PHI 3d, REI 12h, Group 33. Lower rate of 2-3lb/A may be used when tank mixed with fungicide labeled for downy mildew (do not mix with copper). See label for instructions.
mandipropamid (Revus): 8.0 fl oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Group 40. Addition of adjuvant is recommended.
mefenoxam (Ridomil Gold SL): 0.25 pt/A; PHI 21d, REI 48h, Group 4. Must be applied pre- and post-plant for effective control of downy mildew. Incorporate into soil mechanically or with irrigation. See label for instructions and precautions. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
oxathiapiprolin (Orondis Gold 200): 4.8 to 9.6 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Groups 49. Apply to soil in-furrow and/or via drip irrigation. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
oxathiapiprolin plus mandipropamid (Orondis Ultra): 5.5 to 8.0 fl oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Groups 49 & 40. Apply with an adjuvant.
phosphorous acid (Fosphite): 1.0 to 3.0 qt/100 gal; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group 33. Do not apply to plants that are heat or moisture stressed or recently treated with copper products.
pyraclostrobin (Cabrio EG): 12.0 to 16.0 oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Group 11. May cause leaf injury. Do not apply with anything other than water. See label for precautions. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
Buy treated seed. Do not use treated seed for food, feed or oil purposes.
fludioxonil (Maxim 4FS): 0.08 to 0.16 oz/00 lb seed; REI 12h, Group 12. For protection against seedborne and soilborne fungi. Does not control Pythium and Phytophthora.
mefenoxam (Apron XL): 0.085 to 0.64 fl oz/100 lb seed; REI 48h, Group 4. For Pythium damping-off protection. Do not use in greenhouse or enclosed environments. See label for restrictions.
thiram (Thiram 42 S): 8.0 lb/100 lb seed; REI 12h, Group M3.
Streptomyces grieoviridis strain K61 (MycoStopOG): 0.08 oz/lb seed; REI 4h, Group NC. Other methods of application listed on label.
This relatively new disease of spinach was first detected in California in 2001. It affects both production spinach and spinach seed crops, and has become a problem in high tunnel production. Details on the pathogen's life cycle are lacking, although the pathogen can be seedborne. In the field, the disease spreads slowly and damage is limited. Cultural controls rely mainly on sanitation--the removal of infected plants, spinach debris, spinach volunteers, and unused seed. Start with certified, disease-free seed or treat seed with hot water or bleach to reduce seedborne inoculum.
Bacillus mycoides isolate J (LifeGard WGOG): 1.0 to 4.5 oz/100 gal water/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group P6.
White rust is a very damaging disease of spinach that is found only east of the Rocky Mountains in the USA. Plant resistant cultivars and practice crop rotation. Apply preplant and foliar fungicides.
acibenzolar-S-methyl (Actigard 50WG): 0.5 to 0.75 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12, Group 21.
azoxystrobin (Quadris): 6.0 to 15.5 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group 11. Quadris may be phytotoxic to spinach. See label for precautions. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
copper hydroxide (Kocide 3000): 0.75 to 1.25 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 48h, Group M1. Flecking may occur on spinach leaves.
copper oxychloride plus copper hydroxide (Badge X2OG): 0.75 to 1.25 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 48h, Group M1. Flecking may occur. See label for precautions.
cyazofamid (Ranman 400 SC): 2.75 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Group 21.
famoxadone plus cymoxanil (Tanos): 8.0 to 10.0 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Groups 11 & 27. Must be tank mixed with an appropriate contact fungicide with a different mode of action. Do not alternate or tank mix with other Group 11 fungicides.
fenamidone (Reason 500SC): 5.5 to 8.2 fl oz/A; PHI 2d, REI 12h, Group 11. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
fluopicolide (Presidio): 3.0 to 4.0 fl oz/A; PHI 2d, REI 12h, Group 43. Must be used in a tank mix with a fungicide with a different mode of action. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
mefenoxam (Ridomil Gold SL): 0.25 pt/A; PHI 21d, REI 48h, Group 4. Must be applied pre- and post-plant for effective control of white rust. Incorporate into soil mechanically or with irrigation. See label for instructions and precautions. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
pyraclostrobin (Cabrio EG): 8.0 to 12.0 oz/A. PHI 0d, REI 12h, Group 11. May cause crop injury under certain conditions. Do not apply as tank mix with anything other than water. See label for precautions. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
CMV is found worldwide and infects over 800 crop and weed hosts. This disease is transmitted by aphids in a nonpersistent manner; insecticides are of no value in controlling this disease. Start with virus-free seed. Eliminate weeds such as chickweed, pokeweed, and milkweed. Grow resistant varieties such as Winter Bloomsdale and Renegade.