Indicators for flameweeding

Flameweeding carrots for pre-emergence weed control is made easier if you sow a few beets at the end of the row. Beets germinate just a little faster than carrots, and will tell you when to flame. At most temperatures beets come up the day before carrots (see New Seed Starter’s Handbook, or Knott’s Handbook, or the table below).

Unlike carrots, new beet seedlings are easy to see. If you are wondering whether to wait another day before flaming,check for the beet seedlings. Days to germination at various temperatures

Temp. 41° 50° 59° 68° 77° 86° 95° for beets, 42 16.7 9.7 6.2 5.0 4.5 4.6 for carrots, and  50.6 17.3 10.1 6.9 6.2 6.0 8.6 for stringweaving tomatoes (or peas).

Most instructions for string-weaving (stake and weave), tell you to carry the bale of twine clipped to your belt. Here is an easier method, which we use. It works with regular baler or binder twine. Erect stakes in a single row, with two plants between each two stakes along the row, as usual.

Take a length of plastic pipe or broom handle, (or broken canoe paddle for the deluxe version), with a hole drilled an inch from each end. Thread the tool on one end of your baler twine, set the bale down at the beginning of the row, and leave it there. Have the main length of twine from the bale pulling out behind you. Proceed along the row, wrapping twine tightly twice round each stake. The tool makes it easier to get the twine over the back of the stake, and to tighten it – just roll the tool a half turn in your hand to lock the twine and pull to tighten – it beats cutting up your fingers on those long rows. Swoop the tool and twine towards yourself between stakes, catching in the growing plants. At the end of the row, turn around and come back along the other side of the plants.

On the return journey you will be using up the long loose strand of twine that was lying on the ground behind you on the outward trip! Just flip it over each stake as you come to it, so that you have the tool and twine in the usual presentation, and away you go. The plants are sandwiched between two strands of twine, and all you had to carry was the tool, not the heavy bale of twine. Repeat this at weekly or 6-9 vertical inch intervals. For tomatoes we use the thicker baler twine for the first few rounds and then the thinner binder twine after that. For peas we use binder twine throughout.

Pam Dawling Twin Oaks Community Farm Louisa, Virginia