Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Weed'em and Reap

Our farm team has done an excellent job this season with weeding. We have a world champion weeding team. When the weeds get over about six inches we typically pull them.  When weeds are smaller we use a stirrup hoe or wheel hoe.

With the plants like onions where we use compost in the row, we don't usually have substantial weeds until mid season. We are on the second and final weeding for onions, leeks and shallots. They look excellent and will take care of themselves for the rest of the season.

For plants like broccoli that are short maturity we may not weed at all. We harvest and then till under the crop residue.

Many of the vine crops are best weeded thoroughly by hand and closely with the tiller right before the vines start to run. When the vines run, they shade the ground and the weeds can't get a foot hold.

Tomatoes too can be hand weeded and weeded with the tiller before they shade the ground. Then successive passes with the tiller as the plants grow. Last year we had virtually no weeds with this method.

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