Blind weeding
in spring
These are the facts that everyone needs to know
about blind weeding
Blind weeding is carried out between seed sowing and crop emergence. A deeper seed placement ensures that the seedlings are not damaged. This operation is primarily recommended for crops such as broad beans, soybeans, maize, pumpkins, sunflowers, potatoes, and peas (crops that are sown later anyway). As well as helping to control weeds, blind weeding also breaks open the soil crust, enabling a better crop emergence. When blind weeding, the tined weeder must be adjusted very precisely so as not to damage the seedlings.
The hard facts of blind weeding:
- Blind weeding (a few days after sowing, before the crop emerges) often produces very good results and provides another opportunity to control germ tubes from weeds before emergance. Virtually all crops should be blind weeded in this way.
- The best success with weed control is achieved in the tube stage at up to 80%.
- To avoid damaging the crop (i.e. the seedlings), the working depth must be precisely maintained when blind weeding. This should ensure that the seeds are not affected or displaced by the weeding in any way.
Blind weeding varies depending on the crop and external conditions:
- Cereals: approx. 2-5 days after seed sowing; choose a deeper seed placement.
- Maize: approx. 3–5 days after seed sowing, seed placement 6-7 cm / 2,4-2,8″
- Soybean: approx. 3–4 days after seed sowing, sowing depth: 3–5 cm / 1-2″
- Broad bean: approx. 6–10 days after seed sowing, intensive weeding is an option if the seed has been placed deeply.
- Sugar beet: approx. 2–3 days after sowing, pay close attention to the working depth! Blind weeding is only possible to a limited extent.
- Pumpkin: approx. 2–6 days after sowing. Caution: Pumpkin seeds are placed at a shallow depth – do not blind weed too deep.
- Potato: approx. 2–5 days after sowing. Important: “Weeding off” the ridge – the ridge bottom does not necessarily need to be weeded/ cultivated.
Our top 7 of blind weeding:
- Observe seed placement & working depth and adapt it to the crop.
- Plan the operation with the weeder for blind weeding already at sowing time.
- Check work result (but not at headland).
- Adjust the angle of attack of the tine and of the type of soil.
- Select speed depending on crop, sowing depth, soil type, tilth, etc.
- Working depth for blind weeding: max. 3 cm (depending on placement depth and crop).
- Record with a weeding diary + photos to learn about it (also tine position, driving speed, working depth, …). Each farmer should collect his own practice to be able to achieve the best possible result for the respective conditions.
“Plan for blind weeding during good weather and when it is safe to drive over the fields.”
The above-mentioned points are based on practical experience and depend on conditions and the results can vary. Einböck does not bear any responsibility on correctness and cannot bear any liability for damage on crop / machines!
Observe seed placement & working depth and adapt it to the crop
Plan the operation with the weeder for blind weeding already at sowing time
Check work result (but not at headland)
Check work result (but not at headland)
Adjust the angle of the tines to the soil and its pourability.
Select speed depending on crop, sowing depth, soil type, tilth, etc.
Working depth for blind weeding: max. 3 cm (depending on placement depth and crop)
Record with a weeding diary + photos to learn about it
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