How to control weeds in a corn crop

[NewClimber]

I was wondering how big farmers control weeds between rows of corn. I have a 30x40 plot of corn, (which is not doing very well but that is another story) and the weeds are taking over. I have been spending some time picking the weeds out but how would one does this if it was 20 or 30 acres, or even bigger for that matter. I am tying to go organic so chemicals are really not what I am looking for.

As far as not doing well....any suggestions on getting these things to grow?? I didn't do much to the soil this year, being it is a first year garden. Just tilled and added some sandy loam but that was about it. I would expect that the seeds would sprout and not grow very well, but some of them didn't even do this.

 

[PineRidge]

We shallow till with a walk behind tiller then side dress the corn with Urea. Don't let the Urea touch the corn and lightly cover it with soil. The corn will really take of after it gets hit with 46% nitrogen.

 

[wolc123]

Crop rotation and cultivation can be used to control weeds in corn without chemicals. Corn uses a ton of nitrogen and if you build the N level up in the soil by growing white clover (kept mowed) for several years prior to putting in the corn then the corn will have a big advantage over many weeds. A row-crop cultivator can be used to remove weeds between the rows. I cultivate twice, once when the plants are just big enough that the cultivator does not bury them and again when the tractor just clears without breaking the stalks. To really do a thoughrough job at cultivation, it pays to get a tractor designed specifically for this task - Something like a Farmall Cub or Super-A. These machines let you watch the work and allow you to get real close to the corn while providing great ground clearance. For small plots like yours, a walk behind rototiller run between the rows will do a good job.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I was wondering how big farmers control weeds between rows of corn. I have a 30x40 plot of corn, (which is not doing very well but that is another story) and the weeds are taking over. I have been spending some time picking the weeds out but how would one does this if it was 20 or 30 acres, or even bigger for that matter. I am tying to go organic so chemicals are really not what I am looking for.

As far as not doing well....any suggestions on getting these things to grow?? I didn't do much to the soil this year, being it is a first year garden. Just tilled and added some sandy loam but that was about it. I would expect that the seeds would sprout and not grow very well, but some of them didn't even do this.

30X40 is small enough that "staying organic" to me means a hoe, small walk behind tiller, and MAYBE a tractor mounted cultivator. We plant almost 1/2 acre of swwet corm. It's tended to with a go ol' fashioned hoe and a lot of sweat.

 

[Volfandt]

I use a rear tine tiller and a hoe
If I ever get that tiller attachment for my old Wheel Horse, my rows will go to 40" and I'll be a-sitt'n on my rear when I weed's

I've often thought about how one of those little Mantis tillers would work....

Likes been said, once the stalks hit knee high you want to side dress 'em with something high in nitrogen. I used to use ammonium nitrate but thanks to the terrorists, I'm going to have to find something else as I'll be out this year and I don't know what ot would take to buy a 50lb bag of it now....

What is this Urea?

Volfandt

 

[Onthesauk]

Pretty much what everybody else says. I plant far enough apart that when the corn is about a foot high I broadcast 10-20--20 and till between the rows. Pull that nice loose soil up on the rows and wait about ten days and then hand weed one time. Pretty much controls the weeds for the rest of the summer. Corn grows quick enough that it pretty well shades out everything else.

 

[Barnboy]

Urea is 46% nitrogen. I think it may be a brand name not real sure. The place where i buy my 46-0-0 calls it Urea but the bag has a different brand name. For sweet corn it is GOOD stuff.

 

[Doc_Bob]

Likes been said, once the stalks hit knee high you want to side dress 'em with something high in nitrogen. I used to use ammonium nitrate but thanks to the terrorists, I'm going to have to find something else as I'll be out this year and I don't know what ot would take to buy a 50lb bag of it now....

I bought 46% pelletized Urea with ease, 11 bags. Just concentrated nitrogen.
Bob

 

[PineRidge]

I bought 46% pelletized Urea with ease, 11 bags. Bob

Bob I don't think todays terrorists are much interested in Urea. It doesn't go bang like ammonium nitrate would. It's readily available as you found out.

 

[neverenough]

Back in the 1800's, when mechanized farming was being born, farmers would plant corn with a seed spacing the same distance as the rows. This allowed the farmer to go north-south, then east-west through the field to cultivate.



In my garden, becouse they haven't released a round-up ready sweet corn yet, I use a hoe and small Honda 110 tiller for weed control.

On a side note, DO NOT side dress. A fertilizer like a 20-10-15 in the row as you plant is the way to fertilize. Too much is lost trying to side dress, it's a waste of fertilizer.