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Help! Weed killer accident...

Beaming sunBeaming sun Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hi, my apple tree had Woolley aphids last year so I sprayed what I thought was insecticide this year while it was in blossom, shock horror I’d sprayed it with weed killer (diflufenican)!!!! It’s now laden with lovely big cooking apples, does anyone know if they are safe to eat? 🍏
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Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    It takes a year to degrade, so I wouldn't  eat the apples this year. I am surprised your tree didn't die as it is a herbicide.




  • Beaming sunBeaming sun Posts: 6
    Not keen on your solution pansyface! 🤢. Thank you fidgetbones, very technical details!!! Doesn’t look good though does it, amazing the leaves have all recovered and the fruit is big and healthy looking.....sad I’ll not be making crumble this year then....if it takes a year to degrade will even next years fruit be safe to eat either?
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    The moral is ... ditch all your sprays.
  • AlchemistAlchemist Posts: 273
    I’d say it’s safe to eat the apple crumble, based on the document that fidget sent. Assuming you are 70 kg, you are allowed to take 14mg of this stuff every day (ADI). And if you want to see a neighbour (ahem) quick sick you have to feed him 350 grams (LD50). So quite a big safety window. Weed killers I’ve seen have around 400 mg/l diflufenican, (check yours though). So based on the document you can drink 25ml (12 mg) as a party trick - but please don’t!
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    That does of course depend on how much diflufenican you may have already ingested from other sources ... don’t suppose any/many of us have a blank sheet regarding these things. ☹️

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Better safe than sorry. I'd scrounge some from other folk and ditch yours.
    Devon.
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    Really, don't take a chance - ditch the lot. Your health is most important consideration and even if you don't get immediate symptoms, you don't know if there will be damage
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    And if you made a lovely looking crumble - would you really enjoy it knowing it may have pesticides in it?
    If the aphids come back again next year, just try a blast from the hose 

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Hampshire HogHampshire Hog Posts: 330
    Got any neighbors your not keen on bake them a crumble see what happens  >:)

    Only joking I'm with the get rid but not sure how you don't want to leave them where animals/birds can get at them just in case it poisons them.
    "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."
  • Beaming sunBeaming sun Posts: 6
    Thanks everyone, I think I’m going with the dump them view, they are possibly OK but I’m not going to risk it...will they be OK next year though? 
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