Weedkiller...!

Hi all, I'm new to the forum, and, new to home growing vegetables.

Hopefully someone can advise me on the following two questions.

I plan to grow some potatoes in our garden with the help of my young daughter as a bit of a project for her. Maybe other vegtables later on but I thought I would start with something fairly straightforward, however, some years go (poss 2-3) our then gardeners sprayed the area where I intend to now plant, with a weedkiller of some description (the area was overgrown with weeds at the time).

The weedkiller certainly did the trick but my concern now is of any health risk this may pose as a result of growing/eating produce from this area. I have no idea how long weedkiller would effectively 'polute' the ground. I cannot ask the gardener what he used as he has since emigrated.

Also, I plan to use railway sleepers to create a small border/raised bed and again I'm unusre of any risk posed by what they treat/impregrnaye these with.

Sorry if these questions appear daft but I'm new to this and want to ensure my 'vision' of fresh home grown veg does not end up with me harming my family!

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Best regards,

Derek.

 

Evening Derek and welcome to the site. After 2-3 years, all traces of the weedkiller should be gone by now, so I would be inclined to plant. ( If your spuds fail, then you know I`m wrong :D ). As far as the sleepers are concerned. I used treated sleepers to put in 3 deep beds for a client of mine, and what I did was to line them, on the inside, with builders polythene sheet. That was 3 years ago and the family are still going strong. :D

 

Even one of the old style poisons eg paraquat would be ok by now.

I wouldnt woory about the sleapers, the creocote is a tarry product and doesnt leach.

 

Many thanks for both replies.

Is a good (or bad) crop the best measure of any weedkiller theoretically remaining in the ground?

[ 02. March 2008, 09:25 AM: Message edited by: GMV ]

 

Hi GMV and welcome to the forum.The one thing with raised beds is don't make them too wide or else, when the crops are growing, you won't be able to reach the middle to weed. Remember you will have to reach over growing crops without standing on the soil. About 3 foot wide I would guess so you never have to reach more than 18".

 

Hello Derek,
I cannot always understand why,gardeners worry about weedkillers applied to the soil, WHEN! they will quite happily smoke Tobacco and other substances, drink any alcohol (pure chemicals) and "do" illegal drugs.
Most of the ordinary gardiners on our allotments are really old (both men and ladies) (3 are 87,85 and 82)years young.
IF! chemicals and weedkillers are as bad as the PC brigade make out they would not have lived as long as they have.
Get stuck in and get growing, "AND" enjoy yourselves.

 

The maximum width for a deep bed should be no more than 4ft.

 

I have been using sleepers for raised beds for a number of years now. Still here to tell the tail. I think they are great for the job.
Just finished horsemucking the main bed!
Ready for planting now.

 

Hi.

If your crop is bad, it will have nothing at all to do with weedkiller or creosote. It will have more to do with the quality of the soil and the right amount of watering. Last year, I decided to give spuds a go and all I managed was to grow the biggest ****** worms in Kent! They left holes in the spuds that a grass snake could have crawled through. So - no more spuds for me. Anyway, they take up a lot of ground and they are cheap to buy from the shops. Grow some Runner Beans and some Beetroot. Normally, they are easy to grow and they are a good healthy vegetable.

 

Johnny, it wouldn`t have been worms that damaged your spuds, it would have been Keel slugs.

 

Hi folks. For my part, I`d say there`s nothing better than `home` grown spuds. Go for it, GMV