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Posted by kalbir (U15237279) on Sunday, 22nd April 2012
I've got this growing on my allotment, any ideas what it is? It's a remnant of the previous owner. Looks like an asparagus of sorts but a bit weird—the head shape and colour are looking a bit odd.
Thanks for the help!
Kalbir
Mares Tail. Bad luck!!
Perhaps that's why the last person gave up the allotment.
Thanks!
I've googled Mares Tail (and horse tail) and it looks a bit nasty—any tips on how to deal with it would be much appreciated. The current plan is a lot of digging and hoeing!
Kalbir
I was going to say call in the Men in Black. That plant looks pretty alien to me.
Can it be glyphophated to an early grave??
It's the flowering spikes of marestail which appear before the leaf shoots. Continually digging it out does reduce it substantially over time, but you are unlikely to eradicate it.
On the plus side, it really doesn't affect cropping of other things - doesn't steal nutrients or shade them. Also chickens absolutely adore those flowering shoots - ours go nuts for them.
It's the flowering spikes of marestail which appear before the leaf shoots. Continually digging it out does reduce it substantially over time, but you are unlikely to eradicate it.
On the plus side, as weeds go it's more unsightly than actually harmful on an allotment. It really doesn't affect cropping of other things - doesn't steal nutrients to any relevant degree or shade them. Also chickens absolutely adore those flowering shoots and young leaf shoots - ours go nuts for them.
One method I tried and it restricted its growth, was to select an area of luxurious growth, bruise it and hold it under a solution of glyphosate in a plastic dish/tray with a stone. The beast should take up the chemical through the pores and transport it through the system.
Cheers, Tony.
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