Controlling Weeds by the Stale Seedbed Method
Weeds decrease yields of vegetables more than any other pest. If you have had problems keeping your weeds under control in your garden you might try the stale seedbed method with glyphosphate or flaming. Here are the steps.
- Prepare the soil as if you are about to seed or transplant. The soil should have good moisture (irrigate if the weather has been dry).
- Wait as long as possible so that weeds will germinate and emerge. Allow the weed seedlings to grow to the third leaf stage.
- If you are using transplants, flame the soil or make an application of glyphosate (if registered for the crop) to the soil surface before transplanting.
- If the crop will be seeded, the glyphosate or flaming may be applied just before or just after seeding. Caution – If the crop has already been seeded, be careful that the flaming process does not injure the crop seed or the unemerged crop seedlings.
The main idea with this technique is that most of the weeds that have the potential to germinate, because of their placement in the upper 1” to 2” of soil, will usually do so within two weeks after the soil is prepared. Glyphosate or flaming will kill these weeds. By not redisturbing the soil any more than is absolutely necessary during the seeding or transplanting process, no new weed seeds will be brought to the soil surface.
Any cultivation that is performed should be kept extremely shallow (3/4” to 1” miximum) so as not to reposition any additional weed seeds. Note – Check current herbicide recommendations by crop to determine if glyphosate is registered for use in that crop. For cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkin,
peppers, and eggplant, glyphosate must be applied at least three days prior to seeding or transplanting.
Finally, in cases where glyphosate is registered, it can also be used for control of perennial weeds, such as quackgrass and dock, prior to soil preparation. After application, delay tillage for three to five days. There is no residual weed control. See label for directions. Flaming will have minimal effect on perennial weeds.
Where trade names are used,,no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Cooperative Extension is implied.
Source: 2006-2007 New England Vegetable Management Guide, www.nevegetable.org page 43.
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