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Jericho Vermont

After many years of growing I am wondering if I am doing more harm than good weeding in the late summer. The leaves and stalks seem to be more brittle and the roots are always close to the surface. I did a light weed this past weekend and my growth slowed (I have noticed this in the past)I am thinking of no weeding from here on out but was wondering what other growers out there do?
Thanks
John

8/2/2011 12:07:51 PM

Zurich, Ontario Canada

I used to do alot of weeding but felt the compaction and disturbance of roots was doing more damage than good!! Just my opinion. Now I incorprate corn glutun in my soil in early June and there are no weeds until about September. You can only use this after the pumpkin plant is up as nothing will germinate with gluton in the soil. Keep in mind that this stuff is pretty high in nitrogen,so keep that in mind with your fertilizing program>

8/2/2011 7:22:05 PM

Ohio

John, one of many old lesson's I have learned off Larry Checkon that he has shared with me over the years that have always made complete sense to me about anything he tells me when I'm stumped,,,,

The weeds in the patch, he doesn't mess with them at all because of disturbing the pumpkin plants roots, and it makes complete sense to me not pulling up weeds along with your healthy pumpkin roots if you don't have to.

Boz

8/2/2011 7:49:15 PM

Muddy Waters

cut off with scissors the tall ones!

8/2/2011 7:51:04 PM

Rapid City, SD

don't weed here...........round-up is da way

8/2/2011 10:46:12 PM

Tinykinville

john same feeling here, i do a weeding just after sets and one around day sixty after back side of curve is going and they dont matter much, but i very much agree with ya, with root and leave damage not sure it helps much, reason i do it is ventilation, to prevent pm and allow better spray applications. and that being said i do zero weeding after that.

8/3/2011 3:37:48 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

OK, I understand the concept of root damage risk due to plant invasion in order to get rid of weeds. However, I really want to see what's going within the plant and along the all-important main vine. I do as Matt does, apply Roundup beneath the foliage when roots are not exposed and along the main vine. If I wasn't one to use Roundup, I would certainly enter the plant to get rid of weeds.

8/3/2011 5:31:36 AM

Western NY

pull weeds before the vines get there, then go in and clean things out late july, about the time they've grown back enough to start popping through the canopy here and there. I'll go back in mid-late august and clean out again if I think it's a problem.

8/3/2011 8:04:56 AM

Joliet, IL

Stopped weeding at day 15 of the pumpkins and now just cut them with scissors when they pop over the leaf canopy. I trim around the mains so I can keep an eye on them. Not just the compaction and intertwining of roots that get damaged in the weed pulling, you are disturbing your soil food web and community of microorganisms again and again. I have had nice talks on the message board with phil hunt and we both agreed the small loss of nutrients and water you lose to the weeds are lessb then the lower water and nutrient uptake from the damage you do to the soil in the weeding process. If you water adequately moisture taken from the weeds is not an issue. And if you continually drench and foliar, the plants have plenty of nutrients to work with. Google soil food web. Disturbing the roots when you need them the most is like tornadoes hitting a community again and again and just when they get re established, wham. There is a lot going on on an area the size of a pin head. Magnify that times the size of a fresh weeded patch. If complete hand weeding or round up works for you. Do it. I have found this works for me.

8/3/2011 9:28:40 AM

Williamsburg,KY

The weeds I get most are grasses. I always wondered what others did about weeds come this time of year. Thanks John for starting this thread! Does anyone use Poast for grass control?

8/3/2011 10:06:19 AM

Commack, NY

you guys weed your plants? :)

8/3/2011 11:00:02 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Weed wacker now that thereZ rootZ out there...

8/3/2011 12:39:50 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

It is extreemly important to me to keep the stump area and along the main vine all the way out to where the pumpkin is set weed free!!Weeds around these areas prevent air flow and hold moisture.In the past i've experienced stump and main vine rot and i am sure the weeds in these areas contributed to it..

8/3/2011 1:50:32 PM

Saegertown Pa.

I weed all threw the growing season, I always have and will keep doing it. it's not a problem if your carful. Once in I while I break a leaf off but I feel it's worth it.

8/3/2011 2:15:22 PM

The bottom of New Jersey

I enjoy weeding, but with all the node burying/pruning, pollinating and everything else going on in June and July I don't get to all of them. Now is when I spend time crawling through the plants and trying to carefully get each weed. I agree that it can be done carefully and that it has a benefit. I can inspect the vines as I go and if I happen across a fruit along the way I take out the measuring tape for a break. It's fun to me, being inside the plants, I feel like I'm in a giant redwood forest or something. :)

8/3/2011 9:12:01 PM

Eugene,OR

I used to ask my parents when I could quit weeding when I was a kid. They'd always tell me I could quit when all the weeds were pulled.

8/4/2011 9:52:46 PM