Weed ID

[lewic]

Does anyone know what this weed is?

There are loads of the little blighters on my allotment, they are about 1-2" across, like little rosettes. The roots go down several inches, are quite thick, and look slightly like asparagus. They seem to be immune to Roundup!

[lewic]

[ceres]

Try here:

http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/weedlf.htm

or here:

http://theseedsite.co.uk/weeds.html

[lewic]

They dont appear on either of those websites. Guess I will have to leave one to grow and see what it turns into!

[artichoke]

It looks rather like a very invasive weed that sprawls all over my daughter's German garden, very hard to get rid of - but I never knew its name.

[star]

It looks like a Willow Herb to me. The perennial one :(. The annual one has a simple root system ie not deep and penetrating, this type (perennial) has tap roots. It is possible with determination to weaken it by digging it out. Or if you are not organic use a weedkiller.

You say its unphased by Roundup, Have you sprayed recently? Nothing is growing particularly fast at the moment. Its best to wait till spring when they start into active growth to spray. Also if I remember correctly, they may have a protective thin waxy layer on the leaf surface. If this is the case, just bruise the leaves gently before spraying and add a little washing up liquid to the spray. This helps to break any water tension and adheres the spray to the leaf surface.

Hope this helps Lewic ;)

[lewic]

Aha.. Willowherb  :-*! Googled it and that is defo one of the weeds I found when I got the allotment last August.

The upside is that I seem to remember the plants pulled up quite easily (when they were about 4 foot tall anyhow..) unlike the couch and the overgrown raspberries!

[lewic]

BTW Star, thanks for the tips. I think I've been a bit Roundup-happy, nuking anything in sight, when its probably best to wait til Spring!

Did feel a bit guilty yesterday when I found some 'before' photos of my plot and everything was all lush and green like the hanging gardens of Babylon, and now it is mostly grey and dead.

[star]

Yes they do pull up easily when they are mature, trouble is they do still leave an underground growing system in place.

I must add I am not an advocate of spraying......period (I just learned about it at college). Though I do understand it is how some folk deal with weeds and pests. Its an individual choice. ;)

Anyway, I hope you get on top of the weeds..........not long till spring........... 8)