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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Nora42 on April 29, 2013, 19:08:23

Title: what plant is this?
Post by: Nora42 on April 29, 2013, 19:08:23
Hi I have had my allotment for a year and this plant has me stumped.

it grows in spring and at first the leaves and stems have a reddish tinge - this then turns green as the plant grows, it has many leafy soft stems in a clump at the base and doesn't need support it died down last winter and now is back.
I don't know if it's a flower plant or a vegetable, the leaves have a lettuce smell when crushed so I don't think it's a herb.
I guess it could be some sort of biennial flower and it may flower this year.
Any clues? I have looked through several books but can not identify it.

thanks Nora
Title: Re: what plant is this?
Post by: steveg1966 on April 29, 2013, 19:54:41
My first thought is Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) but the leaves do not look quite right have a look at the link below

http://www.perennialveg.org.uk/cardoon.htm 


Title: Re: what plant is this?
Post by: Duke Ellington on April 29, 2013, 20:25:22
It looks like the lovage I have in my garden. Lovage stems starts out reddish and turns green as it grows.

Duke.
Title: Re: what plant is this?
Post by: willsy on April 29, 2013, 21:58:01
If it was Lovage it would smell like celery when you crush the leaf. But doesn't look like it to me.
Title: Re: what plant is this?
Post by: Nora42 on April 30, 2013, 16:18:40
Today I went and ate a bit it tastes of nothing neither the leaf or the stem so I don't think it's lovage either it just looks similar.

oh well I will leave it and see if this year it will flower.

who knows maybe it will.

thanks for all your input and on the subject of lovage I may just get some seeds.
Nora
Title: Re: what plant is this?
Post by: Unwashed on April 30, 2013, 17:29:14
My first thought was acanthus.
Title: Re: what plant is this?
Post by: star on May 09, 2013, 03:24:25
It looks like my Valarian. If it is the same it will grow in between 4 and 6 feet tall and creamy  frothy fowers in umbels which smell devine. Wait and see what it is.......when it does flower, remove the seed heads unless you want them absolutely everywhere  :toothy10: :toothy10:
Title: Re: what plant is this?
Post by: Digeroo on May 09, 2013, 07:35:12
Doesnt look like valarian to me. 

QuoteToday I went and ate a bit
:BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead: :BangHead:

I do not think it is a good idea to eat anything unless you know what it is.     Are you still alive?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Title: Re: what plant is this?
Post by: grannyjanny on May 09, 2013, 08:02:14
Not valerian, we have it. I've seen lovage at the lotty & doesn't look like that either.
Title: Re: what plant is this? update
Post by: Nora42 on June 20, 2013, 00:13:23
 :happy7:

Valeriana officinalis - Valerian - this is what he plant has turned out to be it is very bee happy so I will leave it until it starts to seed and then remove it as it is now so big as to cast a lot of shadow.
I will try to take a picture tomorrow.
Nora
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