Weeds are one of the most persistent and costly challenges in agriculture. Yield losses due to weeds can be severe, and weed management options are often limited, especially for organic and small-scale specialty crop growers. While many small-scale producers rely on hand-weeding or tillage, there are alternative tools that can improve weed control and reduce…Read more about Weed Management Methods for Small Farms[Read More]
Celia Corado
Common names: purslane, pusley, pursley, wild portulaca, common portulaca, little hooweed, low pigweed Latin name: Portulaca oleracea L. Family: Portulacaceae (Purslane family) Life Cycle Common purslane is a summer annual that extends along the ground with its thick, fleshy stems and leaves (Figure 1). Thanks to its ability to reproduce not only by seeds but…Read more about Weed Spotlight: Common Purslane[Read More]
Across the state, pumpkin plantings are hitting their stride with varying degrees of success. The grower phone calls I’ve received lately revolve around options for managing emerged weeds. Broadcast options are limited to grass-selective herbicides such as sethoxydim, clethodim, and halosulfuron (Sandea®) for small broadleaf weeds and sedge suppression. All of these products can result…Read more about Post-Directed Herbicide Applications in Pumpkin[Read More]
Common names: Dandelion, lions-tooth, blow-ball, cankerwort, Irish daisy, pee-a-bed, wet-a-bed Latin name: Taraxacum officinale Family: Asteraceae (Aster family, sunflower family) Life Cycle Dandelion is a perennial weed that reproduces by seed. Seeds germinate in spring and summer, and seedlings form a rosette (Figure 1). Dandelions begin flowering in their second year of growth, with concentrated…Read more about Weed Spotlight: Dandelion[Read More]