There's a sunflower farm here in NJ that we've been going to over the past few years. I am amazed how few weeds are in the plots with soooo many sunflowers. Speaking to them, they said they pull out the tulip bulbs (they have a spring tulip season on these same plots they have the sunflowers), put down fertilizer, rototill the soil, put the seeds in, then the next day they spray with a pre-emergent that they say creates a barrier on the surface to keep weeds from getting through the surface. I asked doesn't that stop the sunflowers and they said sunflowers are stronger / can poke through the soil. Not sure if they mean there's a physical barrier or a chemical barrier that kills (some types of) seeds / new sprouts). And then water for the rest of the season (he said the seeds have fertilizer on their shells). The guy I was talking to said he didn't know the name of the pre-emergent. They plant in stages so different plots are blooming over their fall season of several weeks. It was easy to see the soil around the shorter / younger sunflower plants and it was very barren next to the sunflower sprouts. Wish I took a picture. And I asked if he'd feel comfortable eating something grown in that soil with that pre-emergent... It seems so long lasting and powerful. He said yes, it's a common / safe pre-emergent used on lots of produce. Here's a video I made : ) ​[url]https://youtu.be/fIiGQyfRU6w[/url]​​​ Any idea what pre-emergent a) lasts months b) allows plants like sunflowers to get through c) isn't all that toxic. THANKS!

Its the middle of January here in Michigan. I have a bag of STORE BOUGHT potatoes. They are stored in the basement. They are starting to sprout. I know they say that some store bought potatoes are sprayed so they won't sprout. So if mine are sprouting does that mean they will grow in the garden? And, how can I slow down they're sprouting so they will be ok to plant in the spring? Or, what other advice do you have? Also, can potatoes be grown in shady mornings and partial sunny to sunny afternoons?