Market Farming

[sunnfarm AT netscape.net]

>> We use "Command" (1pt per acre) prior to planting then after planting we
>> used "Poast" (1.5pt per acre) after the plants were up, for grasses (NOT 
>> for
>> broad leaf plants).

Command is a very good herbicide but I stopped using it because of the danger 
of vapor drift. Many farmers around here got sued because of drift. Command 
needs about 24 hours to bind to soil particles. The micro encapsulated 
version is safer and easier to apply, it doesn't need incorperation.

Sandea also sold as Permit 75W its safer and easier to apply and only 1/2 
ounce per acre was enough, its important to have good calibration because 
applying more than 3/4 ounce can be harmful to the pumpkins. I applied sandea 
the same day of seeding but I was told that such an application can harm 
seedlings if a hard rain falls before germination. The recommended 
application time is when pumpkins have 4-5 leaves. I have applied it as late 
as when plants were 2 feet across, at this stage you will get a temporary 
yellowing of leaves but they outgrow it. This allows time to cultivate and 
sidedress, I am reluctant to disturb the soil after application,to avoid 
bringing up untreated soil, but shallow cultivation 1" deep is no problem.

Sandea will kill most broadleaf weeds from seed to 1" tall, it will not kill 
morning glory or bindweed but will stunt its growth, it also stunts thistle, 
marginal control of jimsonweed, it completely controls yellow nutsedge and 
does a good job on ragweed, pigweed and velvetleaf, less effective on 
lambsquarters, it does not kill grasses.

Because Sandea is also registered for use in corn and because most pumpkin 
growers also grow sweetcorn, my state has not permited its use on sweetcorn 
as a way of slowing weed resistance. But because of the compatability you 
could seed early sweetcorn and pumpkins in the same field the same day, apply 
a tank mix of sandea and dual and get two crops from the same space.

Its used alot in my county on winter squash, melons, cucumbers, but not on 
summer squash, I guess because of the 30 -57 day to harvest limitation. 
Sandea is being used under plastic mulch to control nutsedge which if 
untreated pokes right throw the plastic like its not there...

Ecologically; aside from not using any herbicide, it seems to me alot better 
to use 1/2 OUNCE of sandea per acre then as in traditional melons and cukes 
to apply 1.5 GALLONS of Prefar mixed with 1 GALLON of Alanap...Bob.

Sunny Meadow Farm
Bridgeton, NJ.





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