I wasnt sure where to post this so apologies if it's in the wrong place. I have been inundated by this plant on one of my borders. I plant mostly shrubs but I don't remember planting this - it could well be a weed via my next door neighbours long grass and brambles. If it's a plant, I'll pull it up by the root and offer it on freecycle as it's rather overtaken the border!!
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/Magsnags/100_2832.jpg)
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/Magsnags/100_2833.jpg)
Thankyou all
Maggie
Marestail?....if Im right its horible stuff apparently...I dont have any myself luckily,
It's only garlic mustard, one of the cabbage tribe, not a nasty.
Jack-by-the-Hedge or Garlic Mustard a biennial.
Like Unwashed says - its ok - should pull out easlily enough although it can pop up again from its own seed.
...not nasty, true..and best thing about it..YOU CAN EAT IT! ;D ;D
If you are going to have a go..try some younger specimens though..nice in salads..slightly garlicky flavour.. ;)
They are quite good self seeders..so you might have only have one plant in past and seeds from that have created 'veg' bed...but like others said..not difficult to weed out.
Thankyou all, I will inundate freecycle with offers of this - but have a go at eating some myself!! I have to admit that the top does look like marestails - I know what they are as I keep horses and we pull them up if they appear as the horses don't eat them and I was told if I don't cleat it takes over the grass!!
Regards
Maggie
Once it's in flower it's very bitter - best to get it earlier in spring. I tried some last week, hoping it would be okay as the leaves looked young, light green and juicy - it was awful. :-X
It's hard to catch it early enough, as round here it only grows in places I seldom walk past. But if it grows in your garden, you should be able to catch it pre-flowering some time!