There are many strategies that organic farmers can use to manage weeds. One of these is to use a false seedbed (also known as stale seedbed). It can be useful for many crops that are planted in mid to late spring or in the fall. Work the soil to create a seedbed-like condition in early spring (but do not plant yet). This stimulates the weed to grow. Leave the field for 5-10 days to allow weed growth and then till shallow to kill weeds. Do not work the soil any deeper than is necessary to kill the weeds. This process can be repeated as time permits. In some areas, farmers use flame weeding to burn the emerged weeds before planting. The crop should always be planted in a timely matter. Delayed planting beyond the optimum planting date willd reduce yield by one half to one bushel per day.

Tillage will bring new weed seeds to the surface. Most weed seeds germinate in the top inch of soil. The strategy is to kill these weed seedlings, and to reduce the number of viable weed seeds in the soil, before the crop is planted. This strategy should be used in combination with other mechanical weed control strategies to manage weeds effectively.

Hugh Martin

OMAF, Organic Crop Production Lead