Organic Canada Thistle Control

LaurieLovesLearning

I found some great information here:

https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/crops/organic-management-of-canada-thistle

tomandcara

Canada Thistle and Bindweed. My weed nemeses. Aargh!!!!

Torey

Great info @LaurieLovesLearning. Thanks for posting!

LaurieLovesLearning

@torey Thanks. I have 3 big problems in my garden. Quackgrass, Canada thistle and a vine that I haven't identified yet. I have suspicions, however.

There are lots of other common tiny weeds starting up too. I just wish my seeds would grow so I could hoe without accidentally getting them. It is looking like a pretty sad garden year here.

Torey

@LaurieLovesLearning Bindweed is one of my nemesis in our garden along with one of the buttercup species (haven't been able to narrow down the species). I am going to try the citric acid and clove oil on the buttercup as I have both of those ingredients on hand.

Our garden is also not doing well. My cauliflower are still at the same state as when I put them out nearly a month ago. The broccoli aren't much better. One of the broccoli that I started from seed has sent up a stalk with one single yellow flower. It certainly hasn't been warm enough for anything to bolt. Don't know what the issue is. Haven't had a feed of greens yet. Very slow coming. Zuchini have there first two seedling leaves out but are afraid to go beyond that. The weather forecast isn't good so maybe they know that. However, I am going to harvest lovage and chives today to put on the drying rack. It would be a very bad year indeed if those two things weren't doing well.

LaurieLovesLearning

You know, it is way too late for this this year, but I remember hearing about singeing weeds & seeds first thing in the spring as they emerge, then doing a repeat session when new unwanted seeds germinate.

This got me to thinking that we may try this as a spot treatment with the thistles at least.

As far as the grass, that we can do in it fall & in spring.

Here is what makes me think doing this to grasses might work:

"Myth: Spring burning improves the new grass crop.

Fact: Burning actually reduces grass yield 50 to 70 per cent."

From:

https://novascotia.ca/natr/forestprotection/wildfire/firecentre/grass-burning.asp

Here is a bit more on this as a control. I am not talking full out burning, just a quick, light high heat treatment to the plants & exposed seeds.

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-way-to-kill-weeds/

Unfortunately, the site uses the great dandelion as an example...

Torey

@LaurieLovesLearning Great idea! Don't know why I didn't think of it. As soon as it quits raining, I'm headed out with the tiger torch! Even if it is too late in the year, it will give me great satisfaction to burn the offenders.