Is it safe to use paraquat weedkiller in vegetable plots?
Question:I was thinking about using paraquat weedkiller in my vegetable plot. There are loads of weeds to keep under control and weeding by hand is time consuming. Is it safe to use a weed killer like paraquat or should I avoid it like the plage?
Answers:
NO!! Try mulching the weeds instead - either with well rotted manure, clean straw or homemade compost - this should keep the weeds down and enrich the soil for your veg at the same time!! If you MUST use weedkiller use something like Glysophate instead. I would certainly not even think about eating any veg from paraquat treated soil!! I think I'm correct in saying that it is a banned substance in the UK anyway!
NO!...Pull them out by hand...Any product that chemically kills weeds at the root, will not only kill your vegetables,(remember weed killer kills plants, it doesn't know the difference between a dandelion, and a tomato)...it is poisionus to humans...So put on some gloves, get down on your hands and knees, and pull the suckers out by hand...If you have a large plot, use a hoe...
I would agree, don't use paraquat!
I certainly agree with the previous answerer. Paraquat was used by latin american countries to eliminate cannabis fields. The paraquat residue made it into the smuggled cannabis and caused respiratory problems in the users. Use it in vegetables, no way! Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup and other weed killers. Use this instead.
I would not reccomend using either paraquat or glysophate in a vegetable garden. Glysophate is another broad spectrum herbicide that will kill most vegetable plants unless hey are roundup ready (and since there are no home sales of RuR seeds, you do not have such plants growing in your garden).
Get the soil nice and damp and hand pull the big weeds out, roots and all and than hoe out the small weeds left behind and put down a thick layer of mulch- a least 8 inches thick or get landscape fabric and put that down after you have eradicated the weeds.
NO! Paraquat is indiscriminate and will kill just about everything it touches. I know weeding by hand is time consuming, but it's the best way, especially when combined with deep mulching. A good layer of mulch will control the weed growth and you wan't have to hand-pull as much.
As long as the wind is not blowing it should be OK,BUT bear in mind you will be unable to plant where you spray for up to six weeks or more. Don't think you can buy paraquat anymore? Top tip put a drop of washing up liquid in with weed killer it helps spray stick to weeds etc .
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