O/T Weeding Beets, Lettuce, etc. when small

Fergienewbee · May 25, 2011

My beets, chard, and lettuce are just starting to come up. Beets are maybe an inch, lettuce maybe two inches. Lots of little weeds starting too. Not big enough to pull but thick enough to tint the ground. What's the best way to weed them? Wait until they get bigger, very small hoe, or? Do Garden Weasels work? I've thought about using a 3" paint roller dipped in Round-up. Any thoughts?

Larry

rustyfarmall · May 25, 2011

(quoted from post at 11:44:16 05/25/11) My beets, chard, and lettuce are just starting to come up. Beets are maybe an inch, lettuce maybe two inches. Lots of little weeds starting too. Not big enough to pull but thick enough to tint the ground. What's the best way to weed them? Wait until they get bigger, very small hoe, or? Do Garden Weasels work? I've thought about using a 3" paint roller dipped in Round-up. Any thoughts?

Larry

Only way is to either pull 'em out or hoe 'em out. Once that first crop of weeds is gone, sprinkle the ground liberally with "Preen" to keep any new weed seeds from sprouting. The Preen is not 100% effective, but it sure does help.

Mike (WA) · May 25, 2011

You can use a Weasel, conventional cultivator, Mantis mini-tiller, etc. for between the rows. In among the plants, only way is by hand. Thin the crop in the process.

I needed a new weed eater last summer, so got a Stihl Kombi model- interchangeable heads, got weedeater and tiller. Works great for between the rows.

Don't know if all weed eaters have gone this route, but this is 4 cycle but you mix 2 cycle oil with the gas. No oil in the crankcase. Much more civilized (and quiet) than 2 cycle, not as fussy for starting, etc. I really like it.

jackinok · May 25, 2011

i definity wouldnt use roundup myself.hoe is one way,garden weasel is another,tiller or cultivator.could use a tractor cultivator if you rows are setup right and you didnt bury your young plants.ive used a rod weeder on tractor setup for rows.for very young plants folks used to use a rotary hoe around here,but we never had one.sometimes if weeds are really small,and your rows are wide enough a regular garden rake will uproot most of them.

old · May 25, 2011

Best way I have found is simple grass clippings laid between the rows. Stops the weeds and keep the moisture where you want it. I wish I had a grass catcher for my mower I would use a lot more of them in my garden but I only have one for my push mower and that is to much work

jackinok · May 25, 2011

two or three sheets of newspaper works also.

Anonymous-0 · May 25, 2011

Neighbors mom is 93 and was out in the middle of a 5 acre corn field with a hoe just before noon today. finished about 1600. Has a few more to go.

portgeorge · May 25, 2011

Hi, Just curious as to what is "Preen". Thanks, Murray

Mike (WA) · May 25, 2011

We tried grass clippings between the rows, but every slug in the county showed up. Now, I water the rows directly with a hose, and intentionally let the area between the rows get dry, to discourage slugs.

It all depends on your area, and its specific pests, I think.

Bret4207 · May 25, 2011

For getting right on close to the tiny plants a very sharp slicing hoe works for me. I have one I made thats just a mower knife welded to a shank in a light hoe handle. I have the angle almost right after a years experimenting. It runs almost parallel with the ground. Mulch also is a huge help between the rows, we don't have slugs to speak of. Equally good is a Planet Jr type wheel hoe, but you have to weigh the options- wheel hoe takes a lot more work pushing and drier ground, mulch means more bending and stooping but moister ground.

Mark-Mi · May 25, 2011

Preen is a dry granular sold to homeowner/gardeners The chemical Trifloreun(sp). Treflan is the name of it in farm use herbicides, been in use forever. Stops seed germination.
RustyFarmall's advice was good. Mark

old · May 25, 2011

Ya and the type of weather you have any given year. This year the strawberries are rotting because it is way to wet

greenbeanman in Kansas · May 26, 2011

Just a little more on Preen. Unless they have stopped making it there is also a Preen that does not have the chemical in it.

Preen is basically corn gluten meal. There seems to be much thought about whether regular bulk corn gluten meal can be used or not. Preen does have to be renewed from time to time.
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Depending upon the soil you have, and it certainly wouldn't work for all soils, if you know where the row is and can lightly disturb it before the weeds emerge is actually the best time to keep the weeds controlled. Work it lightly every 7 days to keep them in check.

Tine weeders are what some of the big growers use. The Williams tine weeders are often used as blind weeders, i.e. before emergence of the actual crop.

I have very sandy soil and think that using a leaf rake on the surface would suffice. Would cover a wide swath with little effort. Doubt that would work on heavier soils.

No matter what you do, getting them while very young is best.

O/T Weeding Beets, Lettuce, etc. when small

Fergienewbee

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rustyfarmall

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Mike (WA)

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jackinok

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old

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jackinok

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Anonymous-0

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portgeorge

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Mike (WA)

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Bret4207

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Mark-Mi

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old

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greenbeanman in Kansas

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