Vegetable technical projects and information

Weed Identification

This guide is to help you identify the weeds in your crop. Knowing the weed is the starting point for herbicide selection

Often the identification needs to be made, and herbicide applied, at an early stage if effective control is to be achieved.

Charlock/Wild mustard

Charlock is an annual weed and although preferring a chalky soil will grow on all soil types. Its cotyledons are kidney shaped. Its seeds can remain dormant in the ground for many years. It has an extensive root system so competes strongly with the crop for nutrients. The main germination period is February - April although a low level of germination can occur most months in the year

Chickweed - common

Chickweed is a commonly occurring annual weed. The seedling has light green oval leaves and will grow on all soils. It grows very quickly with a prostrate matted habit choking plants as it spreads over them. It has two main germination periods March - May and September to November.

Cleavers/goosegrass/sticky Willie

This is a common and troublesome annual weed . The leave widths a rising in whorls around a square stem. The plants is covered in sticky hairs. It can seriously hinder harvesting in crops due to its straggly habit of growth. Cleavers mainly germinate over a long period in the autumn and winter October - February/March.

Fat hen

This annual weed grows particularly well in rich soils. The cotyledons have a silvery appearance while the true leaves are broad with toothed margins. It is an erect ;plant producing small green flowers. It produces a great quantity of seed and removes a lot of nutrients from the soil. Main germination takes place from March - September.

Field pansy

This is a common weed in cultivated areas preferring acid or neutral soils. Its flower is a small scale version of the garden pansy.

Fumitory

This annual has very long strap like cotyledons. Stems are pinkish with leaves divided into leaflets giving the plant a feathery appearance. Its main germination period is February – April with a lesser period from August -October.

Groundsel

This common weed has narrow cotyledons and step-like teeth on the first true leaves. It has an upright habit of growth with small yellow flowers. It has two main germination periods March to May and September to November.

Hairy Bittercress

A native annual of bare ground growing to a height of 20cm. It flowers from March to August producing narrow seed pods which explode to release seeds.

Hemp nettle/day nettle

The cotyledons are oval to round The leaves are toothed and hairy with veins clearly showing and borne on squarish stems. Flowers are purple. Main germination period is February - May.

Knotgrass

The cotyledons and leaves are long and narrow. The plant has a prostrate wiry growth habit. It is a troublesome weed forming a dense mat which can cause problems when harvesting.
Main germination period February - May.

Rayless mayweed/ Pineapple weed.

Cotyledons are small and the first true leaves are narrow with few lobes. Later leaves are very finely divided. The plant makes an upright bushy habit with flowers consisting of yellow domes. It is common where trampling or treading takes place such as gateways and on waste ground. While main germination period is March –May this weed can germinate well from February through to November.

Orache

The cotyledons and first leaves are mealy. The true leaves are long and narrow and the plant generally has a prostrate habit. The seeds can remain viable in the soil for many years. The main germination period is from March to May.

Redshank

The cotyledons are borne on a red stem The first leaves are tinged with red and later leaves are broad. narrowing to a point. The plant has an upright habit and has small spikes of pink seed like flowers. It prefers damp soils. Main germination period March - June.

Shepherd's Purse

While the first leaves are oval later leaves are deeply lobed. The plant is upright with small white flowers and the seed pods are borne along the whole length of the flowering stems. The plant grows very rapidly and seeds profusely. Although main germination is February - May it will also germinate well through to October.

Speedwell

A common arable weed with main germination periods in February – May and again from September to November.

Annual meadow grass

A compact tufted grass pale green in colour. Due to its ability to flower and set seed throughout most of the year it is a widespread weed in arable situations. Seedlings become quickly established in open ground. It will grow in all soil types.

Willowherb

The broad leaved willowherb is the most common small flowered willowherb growing to about 50cms.
It flowers from June to September.

Organic Crops

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