A weed that's a ticking time bomb

Malva parviflora is a drought-, heat- and cold-resistant weed that is almost impossible to kill once established. If you see any, be sure to destroy them immediately, says Bill Kerr.

- Bill Kerr

Not all weeds are created equal. One I urge every farmer to become aware of is Malva parviflora, often referred to simply as ‘malva’. This weed is a tough customer as it is very hard-seeded: the seeds, once present in the soil, can last for many years before germinating sporadically. I have seen farmers become frustrated because they remove the plants before the seed sets and yet the weed keeps returning.

Apart from this, the weed is resistant to many herbicides. Very often, a herbicide will destroy every weed in the crop except M. parviflora.