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Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) is a very poor competitor with weeds, and to obtain acceptable linseed yields, weeds should be effectively controlled. Very little information is available on the tolerance of linseed to herbicide applications. In this study, the effects of nine herbicide treatments on the control of broadleaf weeds and yield response in spring‐sown linseed were evaluated. The dominant weed species were garden rocket (Eruca sativa Mill.) and field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.). A tank mixture of bromoxynil (337.5 g a.i. ha–1.) plus a nonionic surfactant was more effective than bromoxynil applied alone at 450 g a.i. ha–1 and led to greater yield increases. In contrast, addition of a nonionic surfactant to bentazon did not overcome a reduction in the bentazon dose from 960 to 720 g a.i. ha–1, and the linseed yield was the same or lower than that of bentazon alone. Bromoxynil plus MCPA provided effective weed control but caused crop damage and resulted in lower yields than some of the other herbicides. Similarly, dichlorprop‐P plus mecoprop‐P plus MCPA caused severe crop phytotoxicity and reduced yield. The study confirmed that weeds can severely diminish linseed productivity and that many broadleaf weed herbicides can severely damage the linseed crop. We conclude that bentazon (1440 g a.i. ha–1), bromoxynil (337.5 g ha–1 a.i.) plus a nonionic surfactant, and 2, 4‐D plus MCPA are good options for chemical control of broadleaf weeds in linseed because they protected yield by providing satisfactory levels of weed control with acceptable levels of crop phytotoxicity.

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