Week 10 Part 2: Weeding (Friday 11/22)

Happy holidays! Because Thanksgiving break is right around the corner, we need to weed today so they don't get out of control when we're not there. Also, we're nearing the end of the semester, so we're wrapping up the plot. By weeding now, we can make sure the plot looks presentable when we get back and need to finalize everything. Since we don't have a lot of time today, we're going to weed until the weeds are at a manageable level. This means clearing around where the plants are, removing flowering stalks, and ensuring the weeds aren't too thick or high.


This is what the weed pressure looks like in the plot. It's hard to make out where the crops are, and the weeds are crowding them out. This obstructs the crops' access to sunlight, nutrients, and water, making it difficult for them to thrive. Weeds are a formidable force on the farm; their growth and reproductive rates are extremely high. When we remove them, they grow back quickly (especially with the fertilizer we've added), so we have to constantly weed (pulling them out, hoeing) and apply control measures such as hay and herbicides. Common weeds in Gainesville, FL include crabgrass, globe sedge, and Florida tasselflower (Florida Master Gardener program, UF/IFAS Extension). Happy weeding!

It took us over an hour to get rid of most of the weeds. We were able to fill up eight large buckets, making it a productive weeding day for sure. In addition to weeding, we'd like to shine a spotlight on some of the critters living on the plot as well.


Friend or foe? On the left seems to be a broad-headed bug (Alydus) and the right seems to be a group of milkweed bugs (Oncopeltus). Side note from Amitha: I'm not super confident in my bug ID skills, so I can't verify if these IDs are correct. Insects can be beneficial or harmful in the plot, so it's important to know about what's keeping residence. Benefits from insects include increased pollination, weed control due to herbivory, and predation on pests. According to the Louisiana State University AgCenter, milkweed bugs can actually be beneficial by helping lower competition between plants (crops vs. large amounts of milkweed). However, some insects are considered pests. They can damage plants through herbivory, secretions, or residence, and also spread plant diseases. Broad-headed bugs can feed on legume foliage and seeds, so they may potentially increase the pest pressure in the plot (Virginia Cooperative Extension). Methods of pest control are integrated pest management (IPM; strategies include traps and biological control to minimize pesticide use) and chemical pesticides. 

Sources: 
  • Weeds: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/sfylifasufledu/wakulla/images/master-gardeners/Weeds.pdf
  • Milkweed bugs: https://www.lsuagcenter.com/~/media/system/d/a/6/d/da6dfab0730b3b1dde0b1f2fdc2ddd33/p3925_%20bugbizlargemilkweedbug_ms224pdf.pdf
  • Broad-headed bugs: https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/ENTO/ENTO-457/ENTO-457.pdf

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