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On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I have spoken with several growers about the use of pre-emergence weed killers in pumpkin patches. I have had mixed replys. Some people swear by them while others swear at them. Have any of you used them and if so what was the outcome? Any recommendations one way or the other? I have many many weed seeds sitting in my garden right now due to some weed seed contaminated cow manure I used last year. I could not control the weeds and the seeds were dropping off before I could get into the patch without damaging my pumpkin plants. What to do?

10/20/2006 3:03:42 PM

[email protected]

What kind of weeds? What are the patch goals?

Some annual weeds respond well to preemergent treatment. Perennial weeds that are already growing won't respond at all.

The naysayers will tell you that some loss in weight can be expected. This is partly true so if losing the weigh-off by 10 lbs would break your heart then don't use herbicides.

10/20/2006 3:28:47 PM

Roanoke Il

Corn gluten works I applied some shortly after the vines where burried found no side bad side effects. Not total weed control i'd say 80% maybe I didn't apply enough will surely us it agin. corn gluten is also 10-0-0...mark

10/21/2006 6:50:28 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

The weeds are both perrenials and annuals. Patch goal is 1600 pound pumpkin.

10/22/2006 9:05:06 AM

[email protected]

LOL...I'd stick with Roundup then. LOL

10/22/2006 5:22:49 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Steve what do you know about Strategy. Our source insists it is excellent to use on Maximas. I am reluctant to try it near the giants.

10/22/2006 10:52:52 PM

[email protected]

Shannon,

Strategy is Ethalfluralin & Clomazone (aka Command) together in a single preparation.

Ethalfluralin is a Dinitroaniline herbicide so it would probably root prune at high rates but I've never used it. I do know growers who use Command in Cucurbit production & they are happy with it. Again; I've never known of either to be used on AGs.

I've used DNA herbicides *near* AGs but never at the crown or along the main. I have seen adventitious roots in DNA treated soil & they didn't look any worse than their non-herbicide treated counterparts but I didn't weigh or measure them either.

I think it would be interesting to grow 2 identical seeds in the same plot. Treat one with Strategy (or similar DNA) & leave the other untreated. After harvest, collect measure & weigh as much of the root systems & fruit as possible for comparison.

10/22/2006 11:20:02 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Sounds like a challenge.....I might just do that next season.

10/23/2006 9:14:09 AM

Montoursville, PA

One maybe should not worry about the root system but rather the biological hit experienced in the process. Collecting this and measuring the before and after in multiple sites would be much more accurate. The roots that do not develop for any reason can not be measured. Plants have such wide variation in growth patterns that I don't see how any comparrison of root mass would yeild any worthwhile results.

What is left to support root growth by the biological community might be a worthy piece of knowledge. Once again the cost factors would kill the test for most of us.

10/23/2006 2:48:22 PM

[email protected]

True enough....a soil biology screen would be enlightening too. Oddly some highly charged biological soils consume these herbicides prematurely so a review of this nature would be cool.

10/23/2006 5:15:32 PM