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Can I Use Roundup in My Vegetable Garden?
Can I Use Roundup in My Vegetable Garden?. Roundup is a trade name for the herbicide glyphosate; it is manufactured by Monsanto. Roundup has been used since 1976 to kill unwanted plants in fields and gardens. Roundup is not without controversy, however.
Roundup is a trade name for the herbicide glyphosate; it is manufactured by Monsanto. Roundup has been used since 1976 to kill unwanted plants in fields and gardens. Roundup is not without controversy, however.
Method of Action
Roundup works by interfering with an enzyme the plant needs to survive, called EPSP synthase. Without this enzyme, the plant cannot complete other processes essential to growth and dies. It takes several days to two weeks for the plant to yellow and die.
Instructions
Roundup is taken up by the leaves and stems of the plants and transported to the roots of the plant. Roundup comes in a ready to use mix that is sprayed on the leaves of the plant until it is wet. It needs to be applied when the plant is actively growing or this transfer to the roots will not occur. Roundup becomes inert upon contact with the soil.
Considerations
While Monsanto maintains that Roundup is safe for humans if used as directed, there is evidence that is not the case. A study published in Scientific America found that the inert ingredients in Roundup are deadly to human cells. One ingredient, polyethoxylated tallowamine, or POEA, was more dangerous than the active ingredient, glyphosate. This suggests that although Roundup is labeled for use in vegetable gardens, it would be unwise to actually do so.
