- Author: C. Scott Stoddard
- Posted by: Gale Perez
In melons, as with many annual crops, weeds that emerge in the plant row are the most difficult and costly to remove. There are only a few registered herbicides for CA melon production, and efficacy can be marginal depending on weed species and method of incorporation. As a result, mechanical cultivation followed by hand weeding are the main methods of weed management.
Technology may be able to help. Automated weeders, or robotic weeders, use cameras and computers to distinguish crops from weeds. They are equipped with either spray nozzles, lasers, or cultivators to remove weeds within the crop row. Research by UC Davis weed scientist Steve Fennimore has shown that automated weeders reduced labor use in lettuce production by an average of 38-45% without reducing yield. Another alternative is the finger weeder, a simple mechanical cultivator capable of removing weeds from the plant row. The system uses interlocking rubber fingers to remove small weeds in the plant row once transplants are established. In studies done on the California coast by UCCE Advisor Richard Smith, finger weeders reduced hand weeding by 45% over standard cultivation in crops like lettuce and leeks.
Automated cultivators, however, have their limitations. They work better when there is clear size difference between the crop and weeds, when weed pressure is not overwhelming, and when the weeds are small. In-row plant spacing is important for the cultivators, as there needs to be enough space between crop plants for the blades to move in and out. And finger weeders are effective only if the weeds are very small, potentially limiting their use to very short periods during the cropping season.
Melons, however, should work well for automated weeders, as they are widely spaced down the row (18” to 24”) and finger weeders, since they have a deep taproot that strongly anchors them in the bed.
In 2022, I conducted a trial at the UC West Side Research and Education Center evaluating finger weeders and the Robovator automated weeder on weed control and crop safety in drip irrigated cantaloupes. These treatments were also compared to Prefar, Sandea, and Curbit herbicides. Herbicide treatments were Prefar (bensulide) 6 qts/A PPI, Sandea (halosulfuron) 1 oz/A 14 days POST, Curbit (ethalfluralin) at 4 pts/A 14 days POST, mechanical cultivation using finger weeders 14 days POST, mechanical cultivation using automatic cultivator (Robovator) 14 days POST, and an untreated control.
The finger weeder was operated at 3.5 mph, while the Robovator worked at 1.8 mph. The Robovator used standard 5” blades set to leave a 2” buffer zone around each plant at a depth of about 1” below the soil surface. Using a camera guidance system and a wheel to provide information on forward speed, the blades open around the plants to prevent injury; the finger weeder used Steketee “medium” 14-inch fingers with a slight overlap (Figure 1). The outside of the bed was cultivated using standard sweeps and lillistons at 3 and 5 weeks after transplanting.
Crop injury was observed in one row from the robotic cultivator and in the treatments that received post-emergence applications of Sandea herbicide. Both cultivators significantly reduced in-row weeds as compared to no cultivation at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment, however, weed pressure was equivalent by the end of the season. Nonetheless, hand weeding costs were reduced $37 - $54 per acre for the Robovator and finger weeder, respectively. This is about 20% savings as compared to the uncultivated control.
Herbicides, especially Sandea, had far greater impact on weed control than cultivation at this location. The Sandea herbicide treatment had significantly better weed control as compared to all others, over 90% at all evaluation dates (Figure 2). As a result, hand weeding costs were lowest for this treatment, reduced over $100 per acre (45% compared to untreated), and fruit yield was greatest at 1306 boxes/A.\
While the two cultivators evaluated in this trial did not reduce hand weeding costs as much as hoped, they nonetheless performed very well at the time of use. Puncture vine and redroot pigweed were the dominant weeds at this location, and emergence after cultivation reduced the benefit of these treatments. Very similar to the results of Fennimore and Smith in cool season crops, the results of this trial show that robotic weeders and finger weeders can help manage in-row weeds in melons and significantly reduce the amount of time needed to hand weed the crop. These savings were further improved when used in conjunction with the registered herbicide halosulfuron (Sandea).
This project was supported by the CA Melon Research Board.
Scott Stoddard is the UC Cooperative Extension County Director for Merced county and the Vegetable Crops and Soils Advisor in Merced and Madera counties (2145 Wardrobe Ave., Merced, CA 95341, csstoddard@ucanr.edu)
Now is the time to start thinking about which delicious vegetables you want to grow in your garden. Ted and Rho will go over all the possibilities with you in this class.
Spring Vegetables
These vegetables don't mind the cold and can be planted from seed in February. They may grow slowly, but as weather warms they will grow more quickly. Lettuce, Swiss Chard, arugula, mustard greens, and other leafy greens do well. Radishes, beets, carrots, turnips, and happy during this time as well. However, by late spring/early summer, many of these plants can't take the heat and may “bolt,” sending up flower stalks that the bees enjoy.
Summer Vegetables
You can plant these vegetables from seed or transplant in late March. They prefer warm weather and may “sulk” and grow very slowly if you plant them too early. These vegetables include melons, squash, winter squash, corn, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
Hope to “see” you there!
Where*: On Zoom. You will receive a link the morning of the class.
When: Tuesday, February 22, 2022 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Register at: http://ucanr.edu/spring/veg/2022
Instructors: Master Gardeners Rho Yare and Ted Hawkins
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- Author: Jan Rhoades
It is definitely harvest time in my garden - I guess it has been for awhile. Like all good gardeners, I browsed the seed catalogs and found two new varieties to try out this season: Burbank Red Slicing Tomato and Crane Melon. My choices were inspired by a trip to Santa Rosa and the Luther Burbank Garden. What a treat to walk in the garden of a man that left such a horticultural legacy. Read on to find out more about these two winners. Both are listed by the The Slow Foods Ark of Taste, a catalog of distinctive foods deemed threatened by industrial standardization. They are definitely two to try!
Crane Melon
In Sonoma County, the last name of Crane is pretty much synonymous with the word melon. The Crane family has been farming melons there for more than a century.
It all started when Richard Crane was enticed to set down roots in the area because of the Gold Rush. But it was his son, Oliver Crane, who succeeded in breeding a golden melon that grew incredibly well in the unique clay soil and climate of Sonoma County, and without much irrigation. Named the Crane melon, it is a cross between several heirloom varieties: a Japanese melon, an ambrosia melon, a white melon and a Persian melon.
Beginning in the 1920s, Oliver sold his melons out of the farmstead's barn in Santa Rosa. Today, six-generations later, it has become an iconic landmark known affectionately as the “Melon Barn” where the family continues to farm and sell these melons. The Crane Melon is not found at grocery stores as it is vine ripened, and does not have the shelf life to be shipped. The Crane family claims that, “The Crane melon's flavor is due to its terroir. The melon was developed to be grown...in a particular soil, within a specific climate zone, farmed in a certain style.”
The Crane Melon has appeared in magazines, newspapers and TV shows. A Los Angeles Times article recognized it as a true heirloom. A striking melon it is slightly pear shaped with a gently tapering end and averages 4 to 7 pounds. Its exterior is a pale dusty green color with dark green blotches that become a rusty orange when fully ripe. The inner orange flesh is firm and succulent This melon is described as highly aromatic and exceptionally sweet and juicy with notes of honey, rose and orange blossom.
Over the past month, I have eaten several of these delectable melons from my own generous vine. They are quite big and make a lovely dessert. I am not sure that the soil here has the same terroir, but I can truly say they are the best melons I have ever tasted.
Burbank Red Slicing Tomato
Developed around 1914 by plant wizard Luther Burbank, this tomato was reportedly the only variety that Mr. Burbank raised for canning. It is a semi-determinate that grows on stocky bushes 18 - 36" tall and produces beautiful 6 - 8 oz fruits perfect for slicing and canning. Quite productive and a fairly early tomato, it has no problem with cool nights and even seems to tolerate drier climates. The fruit is a deep red color with a satisfying bold tomato flavor.
In his own words, Burbank described this tomato as, ”The earliest, smoothest, largest and most productive of all early tomatoes. It is of a bright red, the flesh being firm and of superior quality. The plants resist disease in an unusual manner, and unlike most early tomatoes, it produces heavily all summer. A fine home or market tomato, as it is a fine keeper and shipper."
The 1923 Burbank Seed Catalog reads, ”Fruit, bright crimson; thick, solid, heavy, smooth, medium to large in size, superior quality, unusually heavy and continuous bearer throughout the season. Good keeper and fare shipper. The Burbank has one other unique and most remarkable quality which will be appreciated by those who like fresh sliced tomatoes for the table. Unlike other tomatoes, the skin peels freely from the rich, firm flesh. “
All summer, I have been enjoying these fine tomatoes in sandwiches and salads, as well as cooking them down to paste for winter use.
- Author: Whitney Brim-DeForest
University of California Cooperative Extension Sutter-Yuba-Colusa is holding a series of webinars in September and October to provide research updates on some of the major crops in the Sacramento Valley. The classes are relevant to growers throughout California and are primarily focused on pest management and pesticide safety.
The September 9th webinar will feature Franz Niederholzer, Orchard Systems Advisor. "We will be reviewing proven almond IPM practices with an eye to reducing input costs, where possible, while delivering effective pest control," says Niederholzer. He has been working in almonds in the Sacramento Valley for almost 20 years.
Amber Vinchesi-Vahl, Vegetable Crops Advisor, will give her webinar on September 16th. She states, "I will be providing information on important pest issues in vegetables and the latest research updates on disease and weed management in processing tomatoes and cucumber beetles in melons." Her research on tomatoes covers cultivator trials for within-row weed control and monitoring of soilborne fungal pathogens.
Whitney Brim-DeForest, Rice and Wild Rice Advisor, will present September 30th. "The webinar will provide an opportunity for discussion and interaction about weed identification," she says. "We will also cover the latest research updates on specific weed species, resistance management, and new herbicides in rice." The information is relevant to both organic and conventional rice growers, so all are encouraged to attend.
The final webinar will take place on October 7, and will be given by Sarah Light, Agronomy Advisor. Light says, "We will cover opportunities to decrease environmental risk through pesticide selection and application, accurate diagnosis, and reduction of loss to the environment."
Enrollment is limited, so register early. The cost is $20 for 1, $35 for 2, $50 for 3, and $60 for 4 webinars. For more details or to register, visit http://ucanr.edu/syc-uccevirtualwebinars. DPR CE credits have been approved (4 "other" hours total, 1 per class), and CCA credits have been approved for IPM credits (4 hours total, 1 per class).
If you have questions, contact Whitney Brim-DeForest [wbrimdeforest@ucanr.edu or call the UCCE Sutter-Yuba office at (530) 822-7515].
- Author: Ed Perry
Hybrid
Most of the dependable varieties of vegetables that you grow in your garden are from hybrid seeds that were developed to improve the yield, quality, and dependability of crops. However, along with these advantages, the opportunity to grow seeds at home was lost because hybrid seed must be grown under very special conditions not found in most home gardens.
Hybrid seeds result from crosses between parent plants that are unlike. These crosses bring together the desirable characteristics of the parents, and allow you to grow better quality vegetables. However, any seed you save from hybrid plants and grow the next season will produce plants and fruits that have unknown and usually unfavorable characteristics. If you want to grow hybrids, the only solution is to purchase new hybrid seeds each season.
Open pollinated from plants that cross with other kinds of plants
A number of vegetable crops, including corn, squash and melons, cross-pollinate in your garden. In order to grow genetically sound seed from these crops, you must plant them at a considerable distance from similar plants. The distance varies for different crops, but ranges from several hundred feet to a quarter of a mile. Saving seeds from this group of vegetables is likely to give you disappointing results, unless you enjoy growing odd vegetables.
Open pollinated from plants that do not cross with other kinds of plants
Examples are tomatoes (non-hybrids), peas, beans, peppers and eggplant. You may save satisfactory seed from these crops from one year to the next for several years. However, even with these crops, a little genetic change takes place from year to year, so it's a good idea to get new seed every three to four years.