The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Growing => Identification => Topic started by: Bionic on July 23, 2012, 10:47:29 am
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Its very pretty and seems to like the damp
Sally
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That looks horribly like Himalayan Balsam to me. Invasive and a pig, if I'm right. :(
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=96 (http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=96)
Try not to let it spread and best of luck!
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Yes, it's Himalayan Balsam. It spreads by pinging its seeds a long way in every direction, so don't let those pretty flowers set their seeds :o . Very invasive.
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Thanks both of you. Luckily I only have a few stalks at the far end of the pond. Better get pulling them up though.
Sally
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Isnt Himalayan balsam sometimes called Snapdragon as if you touch the pods when they are ripe they snap open firing their seeds all over? Smells nice as well.
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Hi
I only looked at this topic from curiosity, But we have that poxy plant everywhere in our garden!! We only moved in last year & it was badly overgrown and I thought it was quite pretty & the kids loved the pinging seeds.... So we left it... Big mistake, >:( All this year I have been pulling them up but they are still growing all over - It's a nightmare!!
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Yup, that's Himalayan Balsam. Pretty as a picture and as invasive as they come. If you pull them before they seed and burn them before they seed you should be able to stop them spreading like wildfire. :fc:
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:wave: Hi All
In an attempt to be resourceful I have been busy harvesting the flowers from the himalayan balsam that is all over the garden, It has dried very well & kept it's colour (Purple, Pink & White) and I'm going to use it as a filler in pot pourri to sell.... :thumbsup: And once it has dried properly it doesn't even smell like cat pee anymore ;D ;D
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The pods are very amusing and it's quite pretty but it spreads :o so sadly the sensible thing to do is to glyphosate it :-\
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Glyphosate not necessary if you've time to pull (before flowering/seeding sadly!). Hang the stalks up in a tree or hedge, they dry to a crisp and then won't root - if you leave the stems in a pile on the ground they can re-root where they touch the soil.
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I second what YorkshirLass said . It pulls up very easily . I know unfortunately I have spent days and day pulling it up. When we started to get board we would make mazes through it :innocent:
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The riverbanks round here are full of the stuff and it's spreading rapidly. Seems to be more invasive than Knotweed !!