Chickweed

[alienwithaview]

In our recently acquired and painstakingly dug-over plot, I have a bumper crop of Chickweed, which has pretty much smothered most of our seedlings and competes very successfully with the larger plants.
Now, I don't mind the hours spent pulling the chickweed plants, but my determination to serve them to my folks as a salad, means they hate me now. Any good recipe for serving up the likes of chickweed? Even more appreciated would be advice on a fun and veggie method to prevent it from growing / taking over. Is there any hope at all, seeing that all our neighbours' plots are covered with the stuff?

[alienwithaview]

[tim]

Just pulled a bucketful for the neighbour's rabbit!

[alienwithaview]

Even my cat wouldn't eat it - although Richard Mabey (Food for Free) claims it's delicious and that it used to be all the rage in Victoria times, and was sold quite successfully by street vendors as a veg. Can't quite understand why.

[saddad]

A good deep mulch keeps it down..an d easy to spot and pull if it grows through. Where is Supersprouts advice when you need it..  :'(

[deboydoyd]

Apparently you can make ointment out of chickweed, and it is particularly good for piles. I have no idea how to make it, so really only posted this to be mischievous. But it is true.

[valmarg]

Well, alien, looking on the bright side, I was always told that a good crop of chickweed was an indicator of very good fertile soil.

I know, it doesn't help.  We get invaded by the ruddy stuff every year!!

valmarg

[alan42]

give me chickweed anyday but please take my marestail away now that is what you call a real weed a real pain in the backside gets everywear.my chickens love the chickweed but nothing likes marestail.
alan

[RSJK]

Look on the bright side, they say chickweed will only grow on good fertile ground

                 ;) ;) ;)