EXTENSION BULLETIN 1798

Kassim Al-Khatib
Weed Control in Cabbage, Table Beet,
and Spinach Grown for Seed
Weed competition may significantly reduce yields in seed crops. In addition,
weeds that are present at harvest interfere with threshing and increase
mechanical damage to seed, and reduce harvest efficiency. Weeds also can
reduce seed quality in cabbage, table beet, and spinach as contaminants by
interfering with conditioning operations. For example, seeds of certain weeds,
such as wild mustard, catchweed bedstraw, and redstem filaree are similar in
size to cabbage seeds, making separation during cleaning operations difficult.
Cabbage, table beet, and spinach seeds contaminated with weed seeds can be
rejected for certification. Therefore, it is essential to maintain table beet,
cabbage, and spinach seed fields relatively weed-free in order to ensure high
quality seeds.

The most efficient way to obtain high yields and clean seed is to control weeds
before they interfere with crop growth and contaminate the seed. When annual
weeds are controlled in the seeding stage, crop plants get an early and rapid
start, thus competing effectively with late germinating weeds.

Successful weed management in vegetable seed production requires a year-

round approach which uses a combination of weed control practices.
Development of these strategies requires knowledge of the specific weeds that
infest a given field. After identifying and mapping weeds, plan an effective
year-round weed and crop management program by evaluating the different
factors involved: crop rotation, previous weed history in field, herbicides used
on previous crops, equipment available for tillage and cultivation, and
herbicides to be used on the seed crop. Proper cultural practices and
cultivation, used together with herbicides, has proven to be the most effective
combination for controlling weeds. None of these methods applied alone will
control weeds sufficiently.

Field Preparation and Planting

For spinach, table beet, and cabbage seed production, select relatively clean
fields with no history of perennial weed problems. Start field preparation 10 to
14 days after rain or irrigation so newly emerged weeds will be controlled by
tillage. This method will reduce weed population during the seed crop growing
season.

Because perennial weeds are difficult to control during the growing season of
seed crops, eliminate perennial weeds before planting by adopting an effective
control program in the previous crop or by controlling the weeds during a
temporary fallow period. Use tillage, herbicides, or both to control perennial
weeds in fallow. Repeated discing or rotary tilling, as well as the use of a
spring tooth harrow to drag rhizomes of perennial weeds to the surface of the
soil, will desiccate and kill these rhizomes under dry soil conditions. It is
necessary to start tilling when perennial weeds are 6 to 8 inches tall, and
continue to till whenever plants are 6 to 8 inches tall to prevent accumulation
of food reserves in roots and rhizomes.

Use herbicide to control perennial weeds in the fallow or before seed bed
preparation. Glyphosate is effective on a wide range of grasses, sedges, and
broadleaf weeds. It is highly effective on deep-rooted perennials. Apply 0.38 to
3.75 pound acid equivalent per acre to actively growing weeds. Glyphosate
does not control weeds that emerge after treatment. Adding surfactant or
ammonium sulfate may increase glyphosate activity. Do not apply glyphosate
if rain is expected within 6 hours after treatment. Delay tillage for 7 to 10 days
after glyphosate application.

Crop competition is the most economical method of weed control. Reduce

weed problems by establishing a vigorous stand of the seed crop. Stands that
emerge and grow rapidly usually are not as weedy as less vigorous stands.
Planting transplants gives the crop a head start on late emerging weeds, and
deserves particular consideration with cabbage. Purchase only certified seed to
stop the introduction of new weeds. Warm temperatures, proper planting depth,
adequate soil moisture and soil nutrients, and control of insects and diseases
are all essential when establishing a seed crop stand that will compete
vigorously with weeds. Plant varieties recommended for your area.

Use crop rotation to disrupt the life cycle of weed species. Crop rotation
regularly changes not only the crop in each field, but also the soil preparation
practices, subsequent soil tillage, and weed control techniques. All these affect
weed populations and prevent the buildup of large populations of any one
species of weed.

Row Crop Cultivation and Hand Hoeing

Cultivation between the rows easily and effectively kills small weeds,
eliminating them by burial or uprooting. Soil can be thrown over small weeds
that emerge in the crop row after irrigation or rain, burying them. The crop
plants must be taller than the weeds to permit burial. Uprooting is
accomplished by various tools that slice, cut, or turn the soil in which the root
system grows. The roots and shoots will desiccate before weed reestablishment.
However, in wet conditions weeds may reroot themselves and establish new
plants.

Cultivation is effective during the early period, until crop competition is

adequate to shade out later emerging weeds. Row crop cultivators that consist
of reverseddisc hiller, and various bed knives, rotary tiller cultivators, shield
and spring tooth gangs, and cultivator knives are all effective in vegetable seed
crops.

Precision cultivation and herbicide use will not eliminate all weeds. Therefore,
hand weeding is necessary in vegetable seed crops. Hand weeding removes
those weeds which, if allowed to go to seed, will hinder harvesting operations
and seed processing and reinfest the field. Close cultivation and effective
herbicides can reduce any necessary hand weeding costs.

Herbicides
The number of safe, effective, and registered herbicides available for use on
table beets, cabbage, and spinach seed crops is limited. Some herbicides,
although registered for use on these crops, are not effective and/or safe under
western Washington conditions. The following herbicide use instructions are
based on research and growers' experiences. Herbicide rates are expressed in
pound of active ingredient or acid equivalent. Information concerning herbicide
handling, storage, precautions, and safety are not presented in this publication.
BE SURE TO READ THE LABEL AND FOLLOW THE
INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY WHEN USING ANY HERBICIDE.

TABLE BEETS

Pyrazon (Pyramin)
Pyrazon is a soil residual herbicide that kills germinated weed seed and very
young seedlings. Therefore, it should be applied to a moist soil surface and at
least 0.25 to 0.5 inch of rainfall should follow within 5 to 10 days after
application. If rain does not fall, beets should be irrigated. However, if
irrigation is not possible use a shallow cultivation before weeds are 2 inches
tall.

Use 3.1 to 3.7 pounds active ingredient per acre before weeds and table beets
emerge or after table beets have 2 expanded leaves but before weeds emerge.
Apply 1 to 3 weeks after planting stecklings. In early spring (March) plantings,
annual weeds take longer to germinate after beet stecklings have been planted.
Therefore, the delay between planting and herbicide application should be
longer, approximately 3 weeks. Due to warmer soil temperatures in later
plantings (April-May), annual weeds germinate sooner, and, therefore, pyrazon
application should be made 1 to 2 weeks after planting.
Precautions:
Pyrazon does not kill grasses; other herbicides must
1
be used for grass control.
To reduce cost, pyrazon is often applied as a band
treatment directly over the row; rate of application
2
per banded acre is reduced in proportion to the area
actually treated.
Do not use pyrazon on sandy or loamy soils
3
because herbicide may cause crop injury.
Do not mix or apply pyrazon with any other
4 pesticide or with fertilizer except as specifically
recommended on the label

Cycloate (Ro-Neet)
Cycloate is a selective herbicide incorporated into the soil for control of certain
grasses and broadleaf weeds. Cycloate controls weeds by interfering with
normal seed germination and seedling development. It does not control
established weeds.

Apply 3 to 4 pounds active ingredient per acre to well-worked soil which is

dry enough to permit incorporation. Immediately after application, thoroughly
incorporate cycloate to a depth of 2 to 3 inches. Whenever possible, application
and incorporation should be done in the same operation.
Precautions:
Cycloate may cause crop injury on coarse sandy
1
soil.
Tank mix only with fungicides, insecticides, or
2
herbicides specified on   the label.
When cycloate is applied in combination with
3 liquid fertilizer, do not apply more than 150 pounds
actual nitrogen per acre.
Cycloate does not persist in soil to the end of the
growing season. Therefore, susceptible weeds
germinating late in the growing season may not be
4
controlled. Shallow cultivation or postemergence
herbicides may be necessary to control weeds that
escape control by cycloate.
Do not cultivate deeper than the depth of herbicide
5
incorporation.
To reduce cost, apply cycloate as a band treatment
directly over the row; rate of application per banded
6
acre is reduced in proportion to the area actually
treated.
When cultivating fields where cycloate has been
7 banded in the row, use a shield to prevent the
movement of untreated soil into the treated row.

Phenmedipham (Spin-Aid)
Phenmedipham is a foliar applied contact herbicide. It is usually applied as a
sequential treatment, after pyrazon or cycloate, on weeds that have survived
these herbicide treatments. Phenmedipham has little or no soil residual activity.

Apply 0.5 to 1.0 pound active ingredient per acre when table beets have 4 to 6
leaves and weeds have germinated, but before they have grown beyond the 2
true leaf stage. Weed seedlings past the four leaf stage become resistant to
phenmedipham.
Precautions:
Use a maximum of 11 gallons of water for the low
rate and 22 gallons for the highest rate of
1
phenmedipham. Too much water may cause
settling out in the spray tank.
Phenmedipham may cause crop injury if the crop
2
is under stress.
3 Do not spray on wet foliage.
Rainfall within 6 hours of spraying may reduce
4
 weed control.
Phenmedipham may cause temporary growth
5 stunting, chlorosis, and/or leaf tip-burn. Crops
usually resume normal growth within 10 days.

Sethoxydim (Poast)
This herbicide selectively controls many annual and perennial grass weeds
when applied on foliage at the optimum growth stage. Sethoxydim does not
control broadleaf weeds and sedges. Sethoxydim is most effective on actively
growing grasses before they reach the maximum size (generally 6 to 12 inches
tall), after which sethoxydim will be less effective. Always add a
nonphytotoxic fine oil concentrate at 2 pints/A to the spray tank.

Use 0.28 to 0.47 pound active ingredient per acre. Apply the lower rate on
grasses up to 6 inches tall and the higher rate on grasses that are 6 to 12 inches
tall.
Precautions:
Erratic control often occurs when grasses are
1 stressed from drought, low fertility, or temperature
extremes.
Do not mix with any other pesticide, additive, or
2
fertilizer, except as specified on the label.
Sethoxydim does not control annual bluegrass and
3
fine fescues. It is weak on quackgrass.
Do not apply when rainfall is expected within 1
4
hour.

Fluazifop (Fusilade 2000)

This is a selective postemergence herbicide for control of annual and perennial
grass weeds when applied at the optimum growth stage. Fluazifop does not
control broadleaf weeds. It controls many grass weeds such as quackgrass and
reed canarygrass.

Apply fluazifop at 0.18 to 0.25 pound active ingredient per acre. Make
application to actively growing grasses 2 to 6 inches tall for annuals and 6 to
10 inches tall for perennials. Use the higher rate on larger grasses and
established perennials. Apply with 0.25% nonionic surfactant or 1% crop oil
concentrate.
Precautions:
Do not apply when rainfall is expected within 1
1
hour.
2 Do not apply on stressed plants.
Do not plant rotational grass crops such as corn,
3 sorghum and cereals, within 60 days of last
applications.
Do not graze or harvest for food, forage, or feed.
4 Do not feed screenings from table beets treated
with fluazifop to livestock.
 Two applications of fluazifop may be required to
5
control quackgrass.
Do not apply a total of more than 0.5 pound active
6
ingredient of fluazifop per season.

CABBAGE

Trifluralin (Treflan)
Trifluralin is a selective herbicide for preemergence control of grass and
broadleaf weeds in direct seeded and transplanted cabbage. Trifluralin controls
weeds by disrupting growth processes during germination. Trifluralin does not
control established weeds.

Apply 0.50 to 0.75 pound active ingredient per acre for direct seeded and 0.5 to
1.0 pound active ingredient per acre for transplanted cabbage. Incorporate 2
inches deep within 24 hours after application by cross discing or tilling with a
field cultivator. Improper soil incorporation can result in erratic weed control
or crop injury. Apply only once per season. Use the lower rate on coarse
textured soils and avoid overlapping.
Precautions:
Direct-seeded cabbage exhibits marginal
1 tolerance. Higher than recommended rates of
trifluralin may stunt or reduce stands may occur.
Disease, cold weather, deep planting, excessive
moisture, high salt concentration, or drought
2
may weaken crop seedlings and increase the
possibility of trifluralin damage.
Because trifluralin does not adequately control
weeds in the mustard, nightshade, or sunflower
families, it is unlikely that trifluralin alone will
3
provide satisfactory weed control. An
application of another herbicide will be
necessary.
Do not plant sugar beets, red beets, or spinach
for 12 months; corn, oats, and annual and
4 perennial crops of grass mixtures for 14 months;
or vegetable crops (other than those listed on the
label) within 5 months after last application.
To avoid injuring succeeding crops, carry out a
5
deep plowing (12 inches).

Oxyfluorfen (Goal)
Oxyfluorfen is a selective herbicide for preemergence control of certain
broadleaf weeds in transplanted cabbage. Oxyfluorfen will assist in early
season annual grass control. However, it must not be the basic element of a
grass herbicide program.

Apply at 0.25 to 0.50 pound active ingredient per acre after completion of soil
preparation but before transplanting. Transplanting should be completed with
minimum soil disturbance. To get the maximum benefit from oxyfluorfen,
treated soil surfaces should be left undisturbed after transplanting. However,
shallow cultivation after weeds emerge will help in weed control.
Precautions:
1 Use only on transplanted cabbage.
Oxyfluorfen may produce some temporary
injury symptoms, such as leaf cupping or
crinkling. These symptoms are more intense
2
when cabbage leaves come in direct contact with
treated soil. However, plants recover rapidly
from these symptoms and develop normally.
Apply to a soil surface that is smooth and free of
3
crop and weed residue.
To obtain good weed control with oxyfluorfen,
4 at least 0.25 inch of irrigation or rainfall should
occur within 3 to 4 weeks after application.
Do not apply oxyfluorfen post-transplant or
5
postemergence (over the top) to cabbage.
Do not rotate to small-grain crops within 10
6
months after treatment.
Do not direct seed any crops, other than
7 oxyfluorfen label-crops, within 60 days of
treatment.
Do not transplant seedling crops, other than
8 oxyfluorfen label-crops, within 30 days of
treatment.

Simazine
Simazine is a selective herbicide to control certain broadleaf and grass weeds.
Make two applications of 0.8 pound active ingredient per application per acre.
Apply in the fall after cabbage plants are established and after winter rain
begins, but before most winter weeds emerge. Repeat application in the spring
after the last cultivation and before cabbage plants begin active growth.
Precautions:
1 Apply only on well-established cabbage.
Do not use on sand, loamy sand, or gravelly
2
soils.
Apply only under conditions of sufficient soil
3
moisture.
For best results, apply before annual weeds
4
emerge.
 Do not apply simazine through any type of
5
irrigation system.

Fluazifop (Fusilade 2000) and Sethoxydim

(Poast)
These herbicides control annual and perennial grass weeds selectively when
applied postemergence at the optimum growth stage. For application and
precautions, follow the same instructions listed in the table beet section.

SPINACH

Ethofumesate (Nortron)
Ethofumesate selectively controls certain broadleaf and grass weeds in spinach.
Apply ethofumesate at 0.75 to 1.0 pound active ingredient per acre
preemegence at time of planting or shortly after, but before weed germination.
Ethofumesate does not require mechanical soil incorporation when sufficient
rain occurs shortly after application. One-half inch of rain shortly after
treatment is adequate for herbicide activation. In areas where rain is marginal
for activation, incorporate ethofumesate 1 to 2 inches into the soil before
planting.
Precautions:
1 Crop injury may result under stress conditions.
To reduce cost, ethofumesate is often applied as a
band treatment directly over the row; rate of
2
application per banded acre is reduced in
proportion to the area actually treated.
When cultivating fields in which ethofumesate
has been banded, care should be exercised to
3
reduce the movement of untreated soil into the
treated band.
Do not apply through any type of irrigation
4
system.
If the crop is lost due to climatic or soil
5 conditions, do not replant with crops other than
sugar beets or ryegrass.
Do not rotate with any crops other than sugar
6
beets or ryegrass for 12 months.
To avoid injury to succeeding crops, deep plow
7
the planting area.
When properly applied, ethofumesate will provide
8 up to 10 weeks' control of susceptible weed
species.
 Do not cultivate deeper than 2 inches, as this may
9
reduce effectiveness of ethofumesate.

Phenmedipham (Spin-Aid)
Phenmedipham is a foliar applied contact herbicide. It is usually applied as a
sequential treatment, after ethofumesate, on weeds that have survived these
herbicide treatments. Phenmedipham has little or no soil residual activity. For
application and precautions, follow the same instructions listed in the table beet
section.

Fluazifop (Fusilade 2000) and Sethoxydim

(Poast)
These herbicides control annual and perennial grass weeds selectively when
applied postemergence at the optimum growth stage. For application and
precautions, follow the same instructions listed in the table beet section.

Weed susceptibility chart for herbicides registered in seed crop

Herbicide
Species Pyrazon Ethofumesate Cycloate Phenmedipham Oxyfluorfen Simazine Trifluralin Sethoxydim Fluazifop
Broadleaf
weeds
Common
G G G G P G G P P
chickweed
Common
groundsel
G — — P F F P P P
Common
lambsquarters
F-G F F G G F F-G P P
Corn spurry P-F — — G — G — P P
Hairy
nightshade
P F-G G P G F P P P
Henbit G F-P G F-P G G G P P
Pineappleweed G P — P P P P P P
Prostrate
knotweed
G P F P G G G P P
Redroot
pigweed
F-G G G F G F G P P
Shepherdspurse G P G G G F P P P
Smartweed G F P F G F F-P P P
Wild
buckwheat
P F-G P P G F-G F P P
Wild mustard G-P G — G G G P P P
Yellow
nutsedge
— P F P P P P P P
Grass
weeds
Annual
bluegrass
P G G P G G P P G
Barnyardgrass P F-G G P P F G G G
Common rye P P G P F F G G G
Quackgrass P P F P P P F F G

Information used in this table is based on observed control in experiments conducted in

western Washington, not on information from herbicide labels. Letter ratings correspond to
following: G (good) = 85–100%, F (fair) = 60–84%, and P (poor) = 0–59%.

By Kassim Al- Khatib

Warning. Use pesticides with care. Apply them only to plants, animals, or sites listed on the label. When
mixing and applying pesticides, follow all label precautions to protect yourself and others around you. It is a
violation of the law to disregard label directions. If pesticides are spilled on skin or clothing, remove clothing and
wash skin thoroughly. Store pesticides in their original containers and keep them out of the reach of children, pets,
and livestock.

College of Agriculture and Home Economics, Pullman, Washington

Issued by Washington State University Cooperative Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in
furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Cooperative Extension programs and policies are consistent
with federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, gender, national origin,
religion, age, disability, and sexual orientation. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local
Cooperative Extension office. Trade names have been uscd to simplify information; no endorsement is intended.
Published March 1995. Subject codes 262, 263, 277. B. EB1798