The most pressing issue for growing carrots is weed control. To solve this problem, a variety of both scientifically grounded and folk methods of crop cultivation have been proposed. However, herbicides, such as kerosene, kill weeds most effectively.
Applying this or that herbicide in the fight against weeds, you need, first of all, to determine the correct choice, to understand the specifics of the action of the chemical and to strictly follow the instructions for use.
Drizzle with kerosene instead of weeding
One of the ways in which you can deal with weeds in carrot beds is use of pure kerosene.
Carrot seeds germinate very slowly - within three weeks, and while the sprout appears above the ground, the bed will be covered with weeds. Lack of moisture, sunlight, nutrients at the very beginning of seedling growth will certainly affect the quality of the crop later. Removing grass by hand from the beds is a rather laborious process. In the case of carrots, this method is not entirely justified, since the root system of this culture can easily be damaged or even pull out young root crops from the ground along with a bunch of intrusive grass.
Fine spray of kerosene over the ridge is justified at that time, when the seedlings have not yet appeared. The deadline is when 1-2 leaves of carrot tops appear, and weeds already dominate the garden. At the time of processing, the weeds are much larger in size than the shoots of carrots, its leaves and stems will become a kind of cover for the young growth from the direct impact of kerosene on them, and the weeds themselves will be destroyed.
The gardener for processing will need:
- Spray.
- Latex gloves.
- Respirator.
- Pure kerosene.
Kerosene consumption per 1 square meter of surface is 100 grams. After about two weeks, this procedure can be repeated and the weeds will not grow all summer, and an excellent carrot harvest is ensured.
The use of kerosene for weed control is possible only in the beds with carrots or dill.
A positive aspect of this procedure can also be considered the repelling of carrot pests: carrot aphids, bear.
Kerosene as a herbicide for treating carrots: benefit or harm
For gardeners who first learned about this option for processing beds, questions will inevitably arise:
- How will this method affect the quality of the root crop itself?
- How will the use of this herbicide affect human health?
- Is it wise to use kerosene in the garden from an environmental point of view?
Carrots will not be affected by this herbicide. In addition, kerosene quickly evaporates from the surface of the earth. Weed control in carrot beds is done more than two months before harvest. Roots will not absorb the smell of kerosene... But they can buy it if they violate the rules for storing or transporting the crop, when the harvested vegetables are adjacent to chemical products that have a pronounced aggressive smell.
All work in the garden, and especially those that are performed using chemicals, require compliance with safety standards. They need to be carried out using gloves and a respirator.
Since 1940, kerosene has been used for chemical weeding not only in the garden beds, but also for the processing of carrot fields. Spraying was performed at the earliest stage of crop development, before emergence, using agricultural machinery. However, this remedy proved to be effective only at high concentrations of kerosene... In addition, this petroleum product is an explosive herbicide, which is difficult to transport and store, and its effectiveness in soil is only 7 to 14 days.
On the scale of a private farm, there is no need to talk about high costs and a high concentration of kerosene when processing the beds. Kerosene does not sterilize the soil, therefore it does not cause global harm to the environment.
Traditional herbicides for weed control
It is quite clear that drugs based on chemical compounds cannot be absolutely safe. It is necessary to avoid contact with the weeds and soil treated by them for some time.
Not as drastic as chemicals, but quite effective fight against weeds carried out with the help of folk remedies.
Soda
A high concentration soda solution is not inferior in terms of its destructive power. If you dissolve crushed laundry soap in it, this will only increase its efficiency.
Vinegar
Vinegar is applied strictly to the leaves and stems of the weed with a spray bottle. Young weeds are subjected to this procedure, before their flowering and seed formation. The recipe for making such a herbicide is simple:
- Dissolve 5 tablespoons of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of table salt in 1 liter of hot water. It is necessary to carry out the processing carefully, not allowing the solution to get on the vegetable crops.
- Mix 2 cups vinegar, 2 cups water, a bag of citric acid, 30 grams of alcohol, 2 teaspoons of dishwashing liquid.
When working with vinegar, you need to follow the same precautions as with pesticides.
Herbicidal soap
Recipe for herbicidal soap: mix equal proportions of vinegar, salt, crushed laundry soap. Having received a homogeneous solution, the soil is treated with it.
Salt
Salt is abundantly sprinkled on the area (about 1 kg per 1 square meter). Rain and dew will help it penetrate the soil. She will not only burn out the weeds, but also prevent new ones from growing. However, for garden beds this method is still not the best... It is more suitable for yard clearing, garden paths. If you still use salt in the garden, you need to sprinkle it around the beds, stepping back from cultivated plants.
Alcohol
Alcohol is also a very effective gardener assistant. The soil is treated with a solution of medical alcohol and water (proportion 1:10). 11 liters of such a solution is enough for 200 square meters.
The treatment of plants and soil is best done in dry, calm weather, before the flowering of weeds. This prevents weed control solutions from reaching the beneficial plants. Rain and dampness will reduce the concentration of solutions and reduce their effectiveness.
The greatest effectiveness in achieving victory over weeds can be achieved by combining mechanical and chemical methods... After all, removing weeds by hand remains the most common method, along with mulching, liming the soil, and digging it up. May the choice always be correct and the harvest high!