Wichita Farmers Market Workshop Mechanical Weed Control

Mechanical weed control: Everything old is new again

Jay Sleichter Jay’s Jellies, Produce and More, Clay Center KS

Jay Sleichter Jay’s Jellies, Produce and More Clay Center, Ks

Who am I

We have been growing in high tunnels since 2008. We have 6 high tunnels, 2 movable, and farm year around on around 1 acre. Our primary Farmers Markets are in Manhattan and Clay Center. We also run a 7-30+ person CSA/Market Basket market in Clay Center.

My wife, Linda and I have 5 kids a freshman at KSU to 1st grader. Linda is a RN and works at the hospitals in Clay Center and Manhattan. I am a full time middle school math, science, Intro to Ag and Natural Resource Management teacher at Wakefield. .

Is this your idea of weed management?

How I got started, Why I got started Plastic Mulch Issues • Cost • Time for installation • What to do about mulch edges • What to do about row middles • Removal • Disposal • Weeds still grew out of the holes and any rips • Residual pieces of plastic in the field Homemade Mulch Layer

There had to be an easier way to deal with weeds!

Why Two-wheel tractors and Wheel hoes Walk behinds are a great entry point for being able to access mechanical cultivation at the market gardener scale. Here are some reasons why.

1. Price- You can have 2-3 tractor working at once with different toolbars for much less than a cultivating tractor

2. Maintenance- They are very simple to work on and the parts don’t wear out.

No complicated engine and transmission to deal with. If your motor dies, bolt a new one on and keep going.

3. Tool changing- Multiple toolbars allow quick tool changing. toolbar in and you are ready to go.

Pull a pin, slide a new

4. Speed- you can now weed at a fast walking pace, no need to bend over and pull weeds

5. Easy to turn over a job- Walk behind tractors don’t require much training once you get the toolbar set.

6. Great for tight spaces- Very little headlands needed to turn around.

Integrated Weed Management

Cover Crops

Good Weed Control

Mulch

Mechanical weed control is just one part of integrated weed management

Developing a weed control plan

Steps to a weed control plan • Which weeds give you the most problems?

• At what points in the life-cycle is each weed most susceptible to death by tillage? For example, annual weeds are most susceptible at white-thread stage.

• Which of your crops can handle greater weed-pressure, and which require your most weed-free conditions?

• Are you able to match the depth of your tillage to the conditions? i.e. can you till deeply to bury weed seeds if needed, or till shallowly so as to kill germinated weeds but not bring up more seeds from below.

• Realistically match your crop and planting technique to the weed population in your field.

For example, land with a higher weed density could receive more transplanted crops than direct- seeded. By beginning with a larger size-difference in both root and shoot than weeds, transplanted crops can compete better.

How to mark rows

Between Row spacing

We plant everything on 15 inch or 30 inch rows.

Blind Cultivation The goal of blind cultivation is to remove the initial flushes of weeds when they are very small and most sensitive to disturbance. At these early stages, breaking contact between the tiny roots and the soil will kill most weed seedlings. Blind cultivation works well with stale seed bedding and with almost germinated and newly germinated seeds.

Another option is flame weeding.

Blind Cultivation Works well at cotyledon to 2 leaf stage, not well on clump grasses and perennial weeds.

Tine Weeded Radishes

Not Tine Weeded Kale

Between row cultivation • Goal of between row cultivation is to remove weeds between rows of plants. With some tools you will get a slight hilling effect that can bury small weeds.

• Works well at cotyledon to 4 leaf stage • MUST HAVE EVEN ROW SPACING FOR MULTIPLE ROW SET UPS!

Between Row Cultivation Same planting of onions. On the left, between row cultivation.

On the right an intentional skip to show the difference and to see the weed pressure.

Between Rows-Bezzerides Spring Hoes • Kill small weeds (up to 1") by slightly moving the soil between crop plants in the row.

• Made from flat spring steel that flexes and vibrates next to the row just below the soil surface.

• Have a slight hilling action • Compliment finger weeders as they move soil back in the rows and between plants.

VIDEO: Slow Motion Spring Hoes

In-row cultivation-Tilmor Fingerweeders • Uproot weeds and eject them out of the rows.

• Different fingers have different hardness of rubber • Can kill 80%-90% of all weeds in the row.

In row cultivation Video: Slow motion in green onions

Video: Finger weeding 4,000 heads of lettuce in 8 min

Video: 3 row finger weeder in garlic

Video: 3 fingerweeder with yellow fingers

Finger weeder spacing • Distance between fingers is measured as the gap between finger tips or their overlap. We recommend the following initial settings: • On tender direct-seeded: 2-3” gap, so that when fingers are running in the soil they are not contacting the crop-row. Fingers are often run 14-21 days after seeding (often 4-6 true-leaves).

• On vigorous direct-seeded: 1-2” gap, so that when fingers are running they do contact the crop-row.

These crops (e.g. corn beans) can tolerate fingers soon after emergence.

• On transplanted: 1” or <1” gap, so that when fingers are running they overlap the crop-row. Transplants can be finger weeded once they have begun rooting, commonly 7-14 days after transplanting.

How often to cultivate â&#x20AC;˘ We cultivate every 7-10 days until the canopy closes â&#x20AC;˘ Anytime before a big rain. You never know when you will be able to get back into the field.

Different Crops, Different schedules

Costs: Implements â&#x20AC;˘ Can all be bought brand new from Tilmor Tine Weeder-$352 plus toolbar, clamps, trailing arms and gauge wheels Basket Weeder- $1,180 Finger Weeders- $158 each-$316 for 13 inch pair $37 for yellow fingers Toolbars, clamps, Tender beet hoes and much more â&#x20AC;˘ Bezzerides Spring Hoes-Quality Farm Supply Spring hoes-$18 each, $95 for this set up

Build your own • My toolbars cost about $25 to make (27 inch toolbar and 2-27 inch trailing arms) and 30 minutes time. You will need access to a welder and cut off saw or angle grinder. Consider an FFA student to weld them up for you.

• VIDEO:PJ toolbar build • Clamps are the expensive part, buy from Tilmor

Wheel hoes • Hoss- (The one I recommend), Single wheel $219 Double wheel $259, High Arch-$339 • Valley Oak • Terrateck • Glaser • Antique shops, flea markets, FB marketplace, Craigslist, Front yards

Two-Wheel Tractor Tilmor Power-Ox new in 2019. $1,999.99

Vintage Walk-Behind Tractors Many brands: • Planet Junior • Simplicity • Wards • Bready • Shaw • David Bradley • Bolens

Two-Wheel Tractors History Jeff Lauber of Columbus Junction, Iowa VIDEO: Two Wheel Tractors

If you are interested in a Vintage tractor, I have connections to get one shipped to you. Come talk to me today.

MORE INFORMATION • Youtube channel-The Market Garden Farmer • FaceBook groups• Gardening for Market • Planet Jr. & Similar Wheel hoes, cultivators, plows, seeders, planters • Walk behind Garden Tractors • Instagram #PlanetJr #Planetjunior #walkbehindtractors #fingerweeders

Questions from you?