Weed control in strawberries needed now
Growers are being urged to forget the rugby and cricket, and think more positively, perhaps, of eating strawberries and enjoying some good tennis at Wimbledon next summer. Producing the best strawberries however requires attention to detail, including effective and timely weed control. At this time of year most growers are focusing on their arable crops, but it is important not to overlook the multi-year crops such as strawberries which also require attention now, particularly for weed control, advises Dr. David Stormonth, Technical Manager of Interfarm UK Ltd.
"Autumn and winter create optimum conditions to apply residual herbicides to strawberries for the control of both annual and perennial weeds. Residuals such as Flomide and Propose 50W (based on propyzamide), can be applied at dose rates which result in excellent control of weeds; not just annual grasses (such as black-grass, annual meadow-grass, bromes), black bindweed, chickweed, redshank, speedwells, shepherd's purse, knotgrass but also more difficult species such as cleavers, buttercup, docks and couch," explains Dr. Stormonth.
"In many plantations high numbers of weed seedlings have germinated in the last few weeks but growers have been waiting for the conditions to come right for residuals. Soils are certainly moist enough and have reached a suitably low temperature to achieve satisfactory weed control. Flomide and Propose should be applied within the next few weeks and before the end of the year," says David.
Propose and Flomide can be used in established crops planted for at least one year on heavy soils. They are approved in strawberries from the 1st October up to the 31st of December.
Propose 50W contains 500 g/kg propyzamide formulated as a wettable powder and Flomide contains 400 g/l propyzamide formulated as a suspension concentrate. Propose 50W is recommended at dose rates of 1.7 kg/ha for annual weeds and 2.8 kg/ha for perennial weeds. Flomide is recommended at dose rates of 2.1 l/ha for annual weeds and 3.5 l/ha for perennial weeds. They can be used from the 1st of October to the 31st of December and simazine should not be used for six months before or after the use of propyzamide.
For further comment and information, please contact Dr. David Stormonth, Technical Manager, Interfarm (UK) Ltd. on 01354 741414 or 07818 0365062 (mobile).
