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Cedar Rapids, Iowa

I would like to know if anyone had used any type of Pre-Emergence Weed Control to control weeds in their pumpkin patches. If so, what product did you use. Darrell Walters, Cedar Rapids

3/10/2005 11:04:40 PM

Whidbey Island

Till the ground and then use the best weed control device known, a hoe. Use it very carefully as to not disturb the roots. Once the leaves are fully grown almost no weeds can grow in the shade. I just have a problem with all those chemicals lingering in the soil, even though the weed killer suposedly "breaks down". Good luck.

3/10/2005 11:44:56 PM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

If you add chemicals to the soil for the purpose of weed control, would they not stay quite a while in the soil even though they are not suppose to? They usually state that they kill up to 2 weeks? I believe that they do and wouldn't they get into the root system of the pumpkins? I think that they would somehow stunt the growth of the pumpkin. Just my opinion. I agree whidbey the best weed control device known to mankind, the millenia proven hoe.

3/11/2005 9:08:49 AM

Montoursville, PA

I do not know of any such chemical that would not in some way reduce the biological harmony in any soil.

3/11/2005 9:56:31 AM

Montoursville, PA

Till the soil, retill if time permits. Plant the seedling and apply a light mulch of leaves or straw as the secondaries grow. Most weeds will be discouraged. The ones that do appear hoe or pull easily from the soft mulched soil. The leaf canopy reduces light which helps us too.

The few you miss will cause no stress to the plant.

3/11/2005 9:59:44 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

What size area are you talking Darrell. The hoe advice is good advise until you have to do an acre let alone 3 acres. We are currently looking in to pre-emergence weed killers for the jack o lantern patch. Curbit 3EC and Sandea are the ones that look like they work the best. Authority, Outlook, and Raptor are other recommended for cucurbits. Another selective herbicide is Poast...now called grass getter. We have been doing mid june plantings with atleast two tillings before transplanting the individual plants. Do a google search on pumpkins herbicide..

3/11/2005 11:58:29 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I have used Preen, which is basically the same as Treflan that farmers use. You have to wait until your pumpkin has several true leaves, and it won't stop all weeds. It does do a good job of controlling foxtail, ragweed, pigweed and lambsquarters. I'm thinking about trying some corn gluten meal this year. It is a natural pre-emergence herbicide that is so safe you could eat it with no problems. Farmers feed it to livesock. It does have 10% nitrogen, so you might have to be careful so you don't stimulate vine growth too much.

3/11/2005 1:35:27 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

That is how corn gluten works it causes growth of the plant which exceeds the roots capacity causing it to starve it self out. I do not believe it is being used in such large areas as 500-1000 sqf. Although I am normaly an organic preaching person. In Jack o lantern production the word organic does not mean diddly. 98% of pumpkins sold are not consumed. For the average giant pumpkin grower a hoe is still the best bet. For you are looking for the maximum capacity yield of your plant. Time and Labor spent weeding is something expected. If you look at studies involving herbicides. Yields are greatly reduced with herbicide use, compared to hand weeding.

3/11/2005 8:09:50 PM