Weed Control



Key Points

  • High weed populations compete with the crop for water and nutrients
  • Weeds can harbour infestations of insect pests

Introduction

Control of broad-leaved weeds in vegetable crops is very important to minimise losses through weed/crop competition.

Biology

Land used for intensive growing of vegetable crops can become infested with broad-leaved weeds. To minimise competition between weeds and crop it is advisable to treat broad-leaved weeds in vegetable crops before they compete significantly with the crop.

Typical Timing of Weed Emergence
 

Weed   J     F     M     A     M     J     J     A     S     O     N     D  
Cleavers
Galium aparine
Charlock
Sinapis arvensis
Mayweed
Matricaria spp.
Common Poppy
Papaver rhoeas
Common Chickweed
Stellaria media
Redshank
Polygunum persicaria
Knotgrass
Polygunum aviculare
Annual Meadow-grass
Poa annua
Common Speedwell
Veronica persica
Ivy-leaved Speedwell
Veronica hederaefolia
Groundsel
Senecio vulgaris
Field Pansy
Viola arvensis

Darker colour represents peak of emergence