nutsedge. The mulch itself acts as a barrier to many weeds with the exception of nutsedge

which can grow through the plastic. The use of chemicals such as herbicides can also be used

to control weeds.

 The Florida Weed Control Guide (1993) lists chemicals that can be used for weed

control. Bensulide (Prefar) is preplant incorporated for control of germinating grasses.

Bensulide+naptalam can be applied preplant or pre-emergence, for a wider range of weed

control. Diquat (Diquat) is applied post-emergence, for burdown of vines after final harvest.

Sethoxydim (Poast) is used for post-emergence control of grass weeds. Paraquat (Gramoxone)

is applied as post-emergence contact for control of all emerged weeds. It can be used in row

middles between beds, or it can also be applied as a pre-emergence application. Ethalfluralin

(Curbit) is applied either pre-emergence or post-emergence for control of grasses such as goose

grass, panicum, or lambsquarter. Glyphosate (Roundup) is used prior to planting for removal

of weeds. Naptalam (Alanap) is applied pre-emergence for control of germinating annuals such

as lambsquarter, pigweed and carpet weed. This chemical can also be applied post-emergence

immediately after transplant for control of annual weeds. Other herbicides include Clomoxone

(Command 4EC) applied preplant and DCPA (Dacthal W-75) applied as an early post-emergent

(for application rate and comments, regarding these chemicals refer to the Florida Weed Control

Guide, 1993, pp. 312-6).


Insects

 In cucumber production, insects such as wireworm may increase in populations with the

removal of methyl bromide. Methods of control for wireworm include Diazinon, a non-fumigant