Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: cambourne7 on May 12, 2007, 20:42:06

Title: Plant ID needed
Post by: cambourne7 on May 12, 2007, 20:42:06
HI

I found this in amongst the weeds does it looks like borage?

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/cambourne7/P5120603.jpg
close up
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/cambourne7/P5120604.jpg

This has seeded itself any ideas?

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/cambourne7/P5120605.jpg

Cambourne7
Title: Re: Plant ID needed
Post by: manicscousers on May 12, 2007, 20:45:53
pretty sure the self seeded one's a broad bean, another nice surprise ?  ;D
Title: Re: Plant ID needed
Post by: Uncle Joshua on May 12, 2007, 20:49:21
Quote from: manicscousers on May 12, 2007, 20:45:53
pretty sure the self seeded one's a broad bean, another nice surprise ?  ;D

No idea about the others but I agree about the broad bean.
Title: Re: Plant ID needed
Post by: markfield rover on May 12, 2007, 20:50:05
first one comfrey?
Title: Re: Plant ID needed
Post by: cambourne7 on May 12, 2007, 20:52:41
Broad bean  ;D , my neighbour had planted 60 and the mice ate them so maybe they dropped one?

Do i need to support it?? I dont even water it as i though it was a weed  :-X

Comfrey - Yippie
Title: Re: Plant ID needed
Post by: pigeonseed on May 12, 2007, 21:08:01
I tied my broadbeans to enormous bean poles and have been rather disappointed to see they're little stumpy things, about a foot high. I think if I hadn't supported them they'd still be fine.

people on my allotments say if you pinch them out when they're small, it helps prevent blackfly.

But late for me.... ::)
Title: Re: Plant ID needed
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 12, 2007, 21:11:55
The first one's comfrey. Borage has a broader, hairy leaf, and a distinctive, hanging, blue flower.
Title: Re: Plant ID needed
Post by: cambourne7 on May 12, 2007, 21:26:45
fab - i will share the spoils with my neighbour  :D

How long before i should expect beans?
Title: Re: Plant ID needed
Post by: saddad on May 13, 2007, 08:49:08
Be carefull to chop the tops out of that Comfrey... some people have it self seed, and once established it is very difficult to dig out... It doesn't like our soil so we haven't had that problem!
;D
Title: Re: Plant ID needed
Post by: cambourne7 on May 13, 2007, 13:24:12
I was just thinking that i might cut some of it out and pot it up and take some of the leaves for making a tea.
Title: Re: Plant ID needed
Post by: flowerlady on May 13, 2007, 13:29:32
Comfrey has a massive tap root.  Best left on the plot!!   ;)

It's purpose is to bring up the goodness that is beyond the veggies roots.  :D

You can then cut it and either make 'tea' to water onto the plants or allow it to wilt on the surface near toms and spuds etc  It is also a brilliant compost accelerator
Title: Re: Plant ID needed
Post by: cambourne7 on May 13, 2007, 13:31:24
ah good tip.

I will try and leave it then :-)
Title: Re: Plant ID needed
Post by: saddad on May 13, 2007, 13:53:29
Just keep an eye out for rogue seedlings... as I said I've not been troubled by them but some people say it self seeds like mad... the flowers really attract bees!
:-\