Fruit & Vegetable Problems & Culbac® Plant Solutions

From seedlings to harvest, Culbac products have been used by fruit and vegetable growers to increase yields while helping their seedlings, plants and trees deal with stressors such as transplant shock, short growing seasons, drought and other weather-related issues.

With 60+ years of proven results, Culbac products can be used as a part of any crop treatment plan and allows growers to make the most of any growing seasons.

Our easy-touse, natural, and sustainable products are derived from a unique combination of fermented bacteriaand seaweed extract making them safe and effective.

Through university research and field trials, all Culbac plant products have been (and continue to be) extensively tested.

Closeup of Strawberries

Culbac products are scientifically proven to deliver benefits including:

Growing and planting fruits and vegetables with Culbac products are proven to positively impact plants and soils.

The Culbac product line for fruits and vegetables includes:

Culbac Plant Solution

Culbac all-natural, non-toxic plant treatment is an easy-to-use plant growth stimulator and scientifically proven to safely and effectively deliver higher quality sod, lawns, turf and greens. This versatile product is labeled for use as a foliar spray, seed treatment, soil amendment or root dip.

Culbac® Green™ (EPA-label)

Culbac Green is our EPA-labeled Plant Solution Product. If you need an EPA-labeled product for your farm records, Culbac Green is a concentrated bio-stimulant foliar spray with the ability to stimulate root growth, making it ideal for turf health, particularly in high traffic areas. It provides the same benefits as Culbac Plant Solutions.

Culbac Commercial Seed Treatment Small and Large Product

Culbac Commercial Seed Treatment

Culbac Commercial Seed Treatment acts as a stimulus for the growth of beneficial soil microbes when coated onto seeds. In addition to its bioactive compounds, it is fortified with a blend of essential micronutrients to ensure seedlings get the best start possible.

Culbac Dry Seed Treatment Plus Product Case

Culbac Dry Seed Treatment Plus

Culbac Dry Seed Treatment Plus is a dry, Probiotic Plus seed coating formulated with a patented soy powder base for easy application and mixing. It’s designed to get plant seeds off to a better, faster start. No carcinogenic talc or dirty graphite to wear home on your clothes, only natural soy powder.

How Our Products Work In Fruits And Vegetables

Culbac Plant products contain growth regulators like cytokininCytokinins are a class of plant growth substances that promote cell division, or cytokinesis, in plant roots and shoots. They are involved primarily in cell growth and differentiation, but also affect apical dominance, axillary bud growth, and leaf senescence. , microminerals, macrominerals, amino acids, and they also stimulate beneficial microbes in the rhizosphere. The fermentation metabolites in Culbac Plant products boost the populations of good native microorganisms in the soil. These beneficial microorganisms are essential for converting soil nutrients into forms that the plant will absorb, take up and use.
Tomatoes on the vine

Benefits of Culbac products

Culbac plant biostimulants contain a number of trace elements, amino acids, and phyto-hormones (including cytokinins). This blend of bioactive compounds is believed to have a synergistic effect, rendering their mode of action as complex as the products themselves. Application to the soil assists in adding these bioactive compounds to the soil for availability to the plant, as well as stimulating the microbiome of the soil, including stimulating Rhizobium, important soil bacteria that fix nitrogen. Having an adequate microbiome in the soil allows nutrients to be processed and brought up by the root systems of plants. Without these important microorganisms, plants cannot thrive. One of the most consistent responses of plants to Culbac plant products to the soil is increased biomass of microbes and in particular in the rhizobium, increased microbial activity in the soil, and development of robust root systems in plants to bring necessary nutrients to the plant. This makes Culbac products a valuable tool in the planting , growth, and harvesting of fruits and vegetables. This enhanced microbial activity also supports more rapid and efficacious break down of fodder left in the field after harvest, to return important nutrients to the soil and prepare the field for future plantings.

Although Culbac plant biostimulants do contain small levels of elements essential to plant health, they are not intended to replace full fertilizer rations. Rather, Culbac plant products are designed to supplement a full fertilizer program by enabling the plant to utilize the maximum amount of nutrients available in the soil. Since Culbac is an all-natural product derived from fermenting beneficial bacteria in a nutrient medium containing kelp (Ascophyllum nodosum), it is safe to use according to label directions.

Products: Culbac Plant SolutionCulbac Green, Culbac Liquid Commercial Seed Treatment, and Culbac Dry Commercial Seed Treatment Plus

Culbac plant products have been tested extensively for use as a seed treatment. The formulations developed have demonstrated great success with seed for fruits and vegetables. Culbac seed treatments are offered in dry and liquid forms. Culbac Dry Seed Treatment Plus is available for use directly at the seed box during planting and acts as a lubricant. However, Culbac Dry Seed Treatment Plus is not compatible with graphite or talc, but is meant to be a natural, healthy, and nutritive alternative to carcinogenic graphite or talc. Soy powder can be added as an additional lubricant if needed. The liquid form, Culbac Commercial Seed Treatment, is designed for larger-scale seed-processor. Measures of root and shoot growth, seedling vigor, drought resistance, and temperature tolerance have demonstrated the great efficacy of Culbac seed treatments for fruits and vegetables.

The effects of Culbac seed treatments are most noticeable when seeds are planted in less than ideal conditions. For example, very warm soils or very cold soils, or in drought conditions. Besides increases in germination success, earlier emergence and more vigorous seedlings may also be observed when using Culbac seed treatments for farming fruits and vegetables. Strong root establishment with more durable and elongated taproots, as well as more dense root mass, more blooms, greater fruit yield, improved density and more robust production are observed with Culbac products applied to plants.

When used as a seed treatment, Culbac has consistently been shown to improve root development in many varieties of fruits and vegetables. In trials in universities, laboratories, and in field studies in multiple locations, percent of root mass soared above untreated crops when seeds had been treated with a Culbac seed treatment product. Trials also observed improved germination and survival rates, as well as increased seedling vigor and shoot tissue when compared to untreated seedlings.

Studies with potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries, melons, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, peppers of all varieties, and many other fruits and vegetables have been conducted. Culbac seed treatments have demonstrated vigorous and consistent results.

Products: Culbac Plant Solution, Culbac Liquid Commercial, and Culbac Dry Commercial Seed Treatment

Since Culbac plant products have consistently been shown to promote root development, they make an excellent root dip. Many studies have been conducted in both greenhouse and field settings to identify benefits of Culbac plant products when used as a root dip for fruits and vegetables. In a University of Florida greenhouse trial that used root dips on strawberries, the Culbac-treated plants showed root gains of more than 300% over the untreated set in the first two weeks after transplanting. In many other studies with fruit and vegetable seedlings, when Culbac plant products were used as a root dip for seedlings, Culbac-treated seedlings averaged increased root mass above controls. In root dip trials compared to a competitor product, the root and shoot growth for the Culbac-treated plugs was substantially greater than those treated with the competitor product. It is reasonable to conclude that if the root systems of fruits and vegetables are more fully developed, the durability and healthy growth of shoots should be increased due to the greater uptake of water and nutrients.

Culbac products can be used in the propagation of cuttings as well. In order to treat plant cuttings with Culbac, follow the mixing instructions for root dips but instead, soak the tip of a freshly-cut stem in the solution for 30 seconds before planting.

For grape production, when establishing from cuttings after soaking for several hours, dip the cutting in diluted Culbac solution for 30 seconds before planting. For transplants, dip the roots as with the cutting prior to planting.

Products: Culbac Plant Solution and Culbac Green

The traits which determine crop quality depend on the species of crop grown and its intended purpose. For example, tomatoes treated with Culbac have been shown to consistently produce fruits with increased wall thickness, firmness, and better color than those from plants not treated with Culbac. In a University of Florida research trial, a foliar application of Culbac Plant Solution significantly increased the number of U.S. No. 1 Grade tomatoes produced over plots left untreated.

Studies with cucurbits have shown that Culbac, when applied at the label-recommended rates, can promote earlier fruit maturity, longer or larger fruits, increased yields and a longer harvesting season. In a study with canteloup, Culbac-treated melon plants were noted to have better root vigor and increased root mass over untreated plants, as well as a higher foliage-color index, earlier fruit maturity, and larger canteloup with a thicker pericarp.

An example of Culbac’s effect on potato yield can be seen in the data from a University of Wisconsin field trial. In a trial with foliar spray application of Culbac as compared to four competitor products and an untreated control onto the foliage of Russet Burbank potatoes at 6-8 inches, first bloom, and full bloom resulted in an average yield of an additional 2,600 lbs/acre in Culbac-treated plots as compared to untreated plots. Against the average yield from the four competing plant-stimulants, the Culbac-treated plots produced 2000 lbs. more potatoes per acre.

Historically, Culbac has proven to be very effective for increasing plant growth when applied as a foliar treatment. As a foliar spray, Culbac can be delivered to the plants through sprayers or metered into irrigation systems. Since Culbac products are compatible with common pesticides and crop treatments, they may be mixed with these chemicals and applied at the same time. Blueberries, raspberries, chokeberries and grapes have demonstrated delicious and robust advantages when treated with Culbac Plant Solution early in the season.

In addition to the cytokinin found in Culbac plant products, a nutrient-rich fermentate and stabilized bacteria are included in these Culbac Probiotic Plus™ (tooltip) solutions. Trials have been run with Culbac products delivered as a foliar application in many and varied fruits and vegetables.

Application rates and timing are important to achieve the maximum benefit from plant growth regulators such as Culbac. Dose-response studies with Culbac foliar sprays have been accomplished to determine optimal application rates and timing of applications to achieve the greatest returns. Please see the product information for your crop. If you do not see your crop identified, please call our toll-free number for more information.

Products: Culbac Plant Solution and Culbac Green