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herbicides


I have used several herbicides on my commercial pumpkin crops over the last
several years. The degree of their effectiviness is a direct result of several
factors: the chemisrty of the particular herbicide, the weather, the relative
concentration of moisture in the soil and amount of rainfall during the growing
season, etc. ( if any of you wish more detail, then it will follow)  

There are certain problems associated with using herbicides that are listed for
use on pumpkins: COMMAND herbicide will whiten neiboring field plants of any
type IF the spray drifts on them. Other  herbicides can stunt the growth of
pumpkins, if applied too heavily.
ALANAP herbicide is only mildly effective against many broadleaf weeds, in my
opinion, in addition it can stunt plants if applied post-plant at too late a
growth stage.  Your local fertilizer and chemical representative can fill you
in all the rest of the herbicides that are listed for use on pumpkins. 

I have had the best luck using TREFLAN,at the rate of 1 quart per acre. I
should tell you that it is not listed for use on pumpkins. But, it works. It
only kills grasses, and must be pre-plant incorporated. The broadleaves will
have to be taken care of another way. You can also expect an increase in
relative concentrations of certain broadleaves, since the grasses are being
thinned out. For me, Redroot pigweeds and Nightshade have become a problem. I
handle them with a modified field cultivator. Other growers are using different
combinations of herbicides to take out both grasses and broadleaves, perhaps
they will comment further on that point of interest. 

I should share with you that I have been away from the chemical business for a
couple of years, so there may well be other herbicides available that work
better. Also, I emphasize again that you check with those who know (chemical
dealer or Co. Rep)  about listed herbicides and their rates of application for
specific crops in your state before applying anything.

TREFLAN should be worked thouroughly into the soil. I impregnate it onto my dry
fertilizer. You can also apply it with liquid fertilizer. If you are using
seeds instead of transplants, the seeds may have trouble coming up through the
treflan as it works on germinating seedlings. It has been my experience that
treflan can be applied and worked in a full month before planting pumkins..
this allows the field to be worked a second time which improves the perfromance
of this paticular herbicide.  

Lets see what others have to say on this issue, and I will respond to their
ideas at a later time.   Good Luck to all of you.  JWH
 

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