Re: need your opinion on boxes full of weeds

Nonna.PapaVino 5/29/2012, 7:41 pm

Do save some for your family! It's a wonderfully smooth fleshed squash, and I swear there is a buttery taste to the "pumpkin" pies I made from it last year. So much better than either the Galeux d'Eysines (a very large warted peach-colored squash) or the Musquee de Provence (dark, dark green with classic Cinderella coach shape). The pies I made for Clan's Thanksgiving disappeared so fast, some folks didn't even have a chance to try them. BTW, did you know a pinch of finely ground black pepper gives the spice mix for pumpkin pie a great boost in flavor? Enjoy, and let us know what you think of the Aussie Butter.

**Scorpio Rising** 8/30/2017, 7:19 pm

OK my new 3x7 that is full of tomatoes is also full of foxtail grass. Due to incomplete/not hot compost and other things that are now fixed...

I am not doing this again...in looking back on this thread (smart people here!!!) I think I am gonna opt for the "thick layer of newspaper" on this bed, and leave it to plant last, like now, for maters and peppers....

Thoughts?

Solarization sounds like it will kill all the good guys...my plants despite the competition from the stupid grass are doing well. I just hate it. I like it to look nice too! thanks

Triciasgarden 9/9/2017, 1:35 pm

Water first to soften the soil and then carefully pull the foxtail out by pulling it sideways so as to not disturb the tomato roots and stems much. If you leave them, they will go to seed. I like wetting the soil before pulling weeds because they tend to mostly glide out with usually all or most of the root intact. It saves time also.

**sanderson** 9/10/2017, 2:24 am

I prefer the MM a little dry so the soil does stick to the roots as much. Pull one at a time and they should slip out. If you pull a hand full, a lot of MM will come with them. After the tomatoes are removed, or in the spring before your planting time. You can seal the box in clear plastic (over the wood sides) and solarize to the point you force remaining seeds to sprout. Pull those out before planting your garden and very few should sprout during the summer. You can use the newspaper trick when the plant/seedling are in. The only thing is that by covering the MM with newspapers, it will stay cool which isn't good in the early season. Great for hot summer, not so good for early plants. Find that sweet spot.

**Turan** 9/10/2017, 3:29 pm

Do you know what you will plant there next year?
If you do like sanderson is suggesting, forcing seeds to sprout, that will use up the seeds. Each time the bed is green with sprouted seeds you turn it over so those sprouts die but act as green manure on the bed. If you use clear or even black plastic you can push the seeds to sprout earlier and get a head start on the process. It is not solarization, and the plastic does not need to be sealed, just basically a mini greenhouse to trick the seeds to sprout. Then when you do plant go ahead and cover with newspapers to keep any remaining seeds from sprouting over the summer.

I routinely do this at least once before planting carrots in the spring. This coming spring I am going to lay something over the bed to warm it faster so I get a wider variety of weeds sprouted before hand. I spent too much time this year weeding them.

**sanderson** 9/10/2017, 3:47 pm

sanderson wrote:You can seal (I should have used the word "cover") the box in clear plastic (over the wood sides) and solarize (Turan is correct that it is not really true solarization, it's more like creating a warm mini-greenhouse) to the point you force remaining (weed) seeds to sprout.

I covered some boxes with clear plastic my first winter and hundreds of tomatoes sprouted!

**Scorpio Rising** 9/10/2017, 8:15 pm

Turan wrote:Do you know what you will plant there next year?
If you do like sanderson is suggesting, forcing seeds to sprout, that will use up the seeds. Each time the bed is green with sprouted seeds you turn it over so those sprouts die but act as green manure on the bed. If you use clear or even black plastic you can push the seeds to sprout earlier and get a head start on the process. It is not solarization, and the plastic does not need to be sealed, just basically a mini greenhouse to trick the seeds to sprout. Then when you do plant go ahead and cover with newspapers to keep any remaining seeds from sprouting over the summer.

I routinely do this at least once before planting carrots in the spring. This coming spring I am going to lay something over the bed to warm it faster so I get a wider variety of weeds sprouted before hand. I spent too much time this year weeding them.

Sanderson and Turan; I like your ideas. Plus, Tricia, I am going to clean it up as much as possible this fall by pulling. I just don't want to turn the bed and have the same thing happen again! I like the idea of forcing the sprout and then turn....force, turn...and yes, Turan, it will be late plants like tomatoes and peppers. So I would have time I think.

**Turan** 9/10/2017, 10:07 pm

Here is an interesting side note. This is burning the weed sprouts on commercial beds of carrots. The carrots take a long time to sprout, as we all know, so they lightly burn the beds to kill the weeds approximately one week after seeding the carrots. I have wanted to do this, but never been so bold.

need your opinion on boxes full of weeds - Page 2 Gbys_GartnerietMarienlyst_oekojorttilbord_cyklus4

need your opinion on boxes full of weeds - Page 2 Gbys_GartnerietMarienlyst_oekojorttilbord_cyklus4

**Scorpio Rising** 9/11/2017, 8:24 pm

Turan wrote:Here is an interesting side note. This is burning the weed sprouts on commercial beds of carrots. The carrots take a long time to sprout, as we all know, so they lightly burn the beds to kill the weeds approximately one week after seeding the carrots. I have wanted to do this, but never been so bold.

I thought about burning....really did.... thinking

Sponsored content


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.