From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Kennett Square, PA

I live adjacent to a meadow which supplies me with moisture but plenty of weeds, can anyone share with me weed control strategies in season out? The more I till the more I germinate new weed seeds...

10/23/2003 7:58:10 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

How does a meadow help supply moisture?

If the meadow goes unmown, then it probably supplies weed seeds. Mowing it twice a year (at least) will help.
Basamid will kill the majority of the weed seeds in the patch soil if it's timed correctly. Other than that, I don't recommend the use of conventional pre-emergence herbicides on Atlantic Giants unless a slight loss in weight doesn't bother you. You could do this for a couple years until the weeds are easier to manage. Then cut it out & benefit from increased weights. Trifluralin & Pendamethalin are both non-restricted herbicides that are labeled for use on pumpkins. There are others.

Prior to planting you can kill any actively growing weeds in the patch with Roundup. It leaves no soil resdue at all.

Diligent & careful use of mulches would help.

You might even try to find a heat treated weed free soil to topdress the freshly tilled patch just prior to planting out in the spring. Most weed seeds won't germinate if they're buried too deep. As little as one inch would help a lot.

In time, so long as weeds are never allowed to mature & set seed, you'll get them under control.

Steve

10/23/2003 9:05:25 PM

Montoursville, PA

Gardens Alive has an organic product that reduces germination up to 90%. It is called WOW and is corn gluton. A side benefit is that it supplies some natural slowly delivered nitrogen. Suggest 10lbs per 1000 sq. ft. at a cost of $28 bucks for 25lbs. It is applied twice a year for maximum control without synthetic lingering chemicals in your patch. Heavier application rates improve the controll and do not adversly harm your soils biological ballences.

An equal amount of corn meal, not the same as corn gluton, will help your plants fend off some insects and more important some milldew attack. Again it adds some nutrient assist and no chemical salts, poisons or reactions from treatment. Some suggest twenty pounds per 1000 sq. feet. I just buy it at the grocery store. The good news is after a year or so you don't have to use it very often in the future. It works like a treatment with a follow up shot maybe every other year or so. This is because it builds up the natural healthy soil consequently the healthy plant. It is not a treatment that needs proving or study. It just works. That is all we need to know. Read more about this in the book, Dear Dirt Doctor.

10/27/2003 12:20:45 PM