Thistles are a common weed throughout the UK, growing up to 150cm in height. They are recognisable by the spiny leaves and lilac or yellow flowers.
Thistles in oilseed rape
Thistles and sow-thistles in oilseed rape
Within the oilseed rape crop two distinct types of “thistles” can be found. Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), Perennial sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis) and Smooth sow-thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) are all members of the Asteraceae family. Cirsium species are recognisable by the spiny leaves and lilac flowers whilst the Sonchus species have yellow flowers.
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Perennial sow-thistle
Perennial sow-thistle is a perennial dicotyledon growing to about 150cm in height and found throughout England and Wales and to a lesser extent Scotland and Ireland. Seeds germinate in the spring and once established can form large clumps as the rhizomes spread.
Smooth sow-thistle
Smooth sow-thistle is an annual dicotyledon growing up to 120cm in height. The seeds germinate in the autumn and the spring and, unlike perennial sow-thistle, it does not spread by rhizomes to form clumps though is a common weed of arable cropping.
Creeping thistle
Creeping thistle (perennial dicotyledon) is a common weed throughout the UK, growing up to 150cm in height. Creeping thistles tolerate a range of soil types and respond to the use of nitrogen fertilisers. It does set seed, with the thistledown characteristically blown in the wind, though the seed viability is approximately 3%.
Creeping thistle seed remains viable in the soil for over 5 years and germinate in the autumn or in the spring. Regeneration is mostly via the rhizomes that form dense, very competitive patches within fields as the rhizomes spread.
Cultural control methods are difficult as cultivations break up the extensive root system which germinate and chemical options within crops are an important option to manage populations.
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Product choice
Korvetto® (containing clopyralid and halauxifen methyl) is a post emergence contact herbicide that can be applied from 1st March to before 1st June Korvetto has good activity against thistle and sow-thistle as well as a range of other broad-leaved weeds.
Shield Pro™ (containing clopyralid) is a post emergence contact herbicide that can be applied in the spring from 1st March either as a single application or as a sequence. Shield Pro has activity on the rhizomes of creeping thistle and perennial sow-thistle and control of smooth sow-thistle.
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Korvetto® is a selective post-emergence spring applied herbicide for use on winter oilseed rape.
Shield Pro™ controls a range of perennial and annual broad-leaved weeds in a wide range of crops.