So, I gave up on the garden this year since we had such a terrible season. I let it go to the weeds. I'm terrible at keeping up with weeding anyway, and even if I did keep up with them, I wouldn't know for sure what to pull and what to keep. I've figured out a plan on making my garden easier to figure out when it comes to weeding. I read about cutworm prevention by putting a segment of a toilet paper tube about a half-inch or an inch tall around the planted seed. I figure that will also keep me aware of where my seeds are and anything outside that tube can be pulled. Why didn't I think of that sooner? That will also help with my labeling issue. I always forget or lose my labeling sticks. I'll just write it on the tube. Viola! I take care of 3 problems with one simple solution! So, back to the weeds... I've decided to keep, and perhaps even cultivate, certain weeds and get rid of the rest. I'll get rid of the grasses (to the best of my ability since it is a losing battle), the ragweed and mugwort. I'll keep the clover, dandelions, creeping charlie, wild aster, onion grass and broadleaf and narrowleaf plantains. Those are all either loved by the bumble bees and honey bees, suitable for human consumption, or both. I would enjoy any thoughts, ideas and/or experiences of others.
Glad to hear that you are getting rid of the ragweed. Oh, that stuff does a job on my eyes and upper respiratory system. Here’ s wishing you strength in battling your weeds.
Sjoerd, you need to make some goldenrod tea for that there ragweed allergy. next year see if it helps. lots of things grow together that one is the offender and the other is the cure.
That is really interesting to read, Carolyn. I can’t say that I get how drinking tea from one will cure problems caused by the other. Solidago en Ambrosia plants are in the Aster family but further are not closely related. I will read up on this. You know, every year people here want honey from me and one or two of them want it because they have “seasonal allergies, like hay fever”. They want the honey because of the pollen in it. They hope that with small doses of the pollen that they will desensitise themselves. Being a medical man, I tell them that I cannot be sure that the honey will help at all because I have never read published studies in medical journals which would support this theory. Aside from this, those folks intend using my raw honey i their tea or cooking with it. I had to explain that high temps would destroy enzymes and pollen particles, rendering them useless. I hate for folks to use the honey in that way — it is a shame to ruin good honey in that way. I suggest that they can better go to the supermarket and buy a jar of honey for less than a euro. The taste is the same, if they want the taste only. Of course the store bought honey is pasteurised and high-pressure filtered. Hee hee I got off on a tangent didn’t I. Sorry. I am going to look into your suggestion.
Beeker, when you mention ragweed, what exactly are you referring to? Does it look like this with yellow daisy type flowers ... or this which I believe is in the Artemesia family?
Obviously we're thinking of different plants. There is Ragweed in the UK but I think it is mainly in the north - we're more familiar with ragwart here.
It was the Ragwort that you added the photo of Eileen it confirms that this is the plant I am concerned about. This plant kills livestock. It is most poisonous especially to horses as the flowers fade. We remove this from our land regularly as soon as we see any sign of it, but it grows all over the place. I have a friend who has always kept horses, and pulling ragwort has actually resulted in her having a rather nasty blood disease. Whenever handling the plants you should wear strong gloves, and burn the offending weeds. Be warned !!
Yes Ragwart is a real nasty Tetters. Thankfully the farmers who keep livestock around here are wise to it and remove it as soon as it appears. Gradually, over the years, there is less and less to be seen. There is an area where it is allowed to grow (within limits) as it's the main food plant for the Burnet Moth. Here's a picture of this attractive, day flying moth.
I've got all of those in the various pictures. I'll have to take a picture of the one I'm referring to when I catch it blooming and post it for you.
