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?
Just pulled a bucketful for the neighbour's rabbit!
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.
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.. :'(
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.
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
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
Look on the bright side, they say chickweed will only grow on good fertile ground
;) ;) ;)