I'll go straight through, thanks!

[ceres]

Dug up a rhubarb crown today from in amongst a bit of couch grass.  Forget about going round!

[attachment=1]


The dark Y shaped root is from the rhubarb, the white is the couch grass.  But look a bit more closely:

[attachment=2]

Evil stuff!

[ceres]

[thifasmom]

:o i didn't think it would grow through living tissue but now i think about it doesn't it do that to potatoes ???

[ceres]

I'd heard that about growing through potatoes but never seen it myself.  I just wonder how the couch grass can do it because it's not especially stiff or sharp?

[thifasmom]

hmmm must just be the tenacity of its growing tip. makes me wonder if it'll grow through us if we stand in its way to long :-X.

[Eristic]

The real question is "Does the couch grass grow through the tuber or does the tuber grow around the shoot"?

[Deb P]

It will be the couch having its evil way....'tis the devils spawn and will grow through anything......... >:(

[Eristic]

I'm not convinced.

[ceres]

What are you not convinced about?

[Tin Shed]

I've had it go through potatoes as well. The only good thing about couch is that you can get rid of it with persistant digging. ::)

[thifasmom]

The real question is "Does the couch grass grow through the tuber or does the tuber grow around the shoot"?

Well i can't see why potatoes would grow around one type of root and not others and if potatoes were able to grow around and envelope roots which are flexible enough to be pushed aside by a swelling tuber in the soil, why don't they grow around and envelope harder more resistant objects like stones or sticks/ twigs ???.

[thifasmom]

on a lighter note ;) i got this info about its uses from this site:

http://www.pfaf.org/leaflets/usefulweeds.php

Elytrigia repens. Couch grass is one of the most pernicious weeds we gardeners have to contend with. It would be a very brave or very foolish person who would encourage this perennial grass into their garden. Growing about 50cm tall, the roots spread quickly through the soil, growing into the roots of other plants and making themselves almost impossible to get out. Even a small section of root left in the soil will quickly start growing again. Despite its antisocial tendency in the garden, however, couch is a very useful herbal medicine and the famous Herbalist Culpepper is said to have stated that half an acre of couch was worth five acres of carrots twice over. The edible uses of couch are very minor. The roots have been dried and ground into a powder, then used with wheat when making bread. Although thin and stringy, they contain starch and enzymes and are quite sweet. When boiled for a long time to break down the leathery membrane, a syrup can be made from the roots and this is sometimes brewed into a beer. When roasted, the root has been ground into a powder and used as a more healthy coffee substitute. Couch grass, however, is of considerable value as a herbal medicine - a decoction of the roots being very useful in the treatment of a wide range of kidney, liver and urinary disorders. They have a gentle remedial effect which is well-tolerated by the body and has no side-effects. This plant is also a favourite medicine of domestic cats and dogs, who will often eat quite large quantities of the leaves.

[ceres]

Great info!  Couch grass beer, heh?  Don't tell the boys, they'll be turning their plots over to mass couch grass production!

[thifasmom]

will get the plot cleared properly though ;D

[terrier]

I'd heard that about growing through potatoes but never seen it myself.  I just wonder how the couch grass can do it because it's not especially stiff or sharp?

I wonder if that's where the term 'couch potatoe' comes from  ::)  Hi folks.

[redimp]

I have had couch roots go through potatoes - supposedly it is seeking water when it is dry.

[Eristic]

It is a common phenomenon for potatoes to have spear grass roots growing through them but many a time I have found that when the spud is cut open there is also lumps of soil inside which makes me wonder, does the root grow through the tuber or does the tuber grow around the root. I believe both are possible and probable events.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've found couch roots going through all sorts of things. I think the couch must force its way through the other plant as I've never seen any sign that the second plant has attempted to grow round the couch.