By Treepot
West Midlands, United Kingdom
Hi I have 2 plants that have appeared in my verg patch, they have large hollow stems and lots of lush oval shaped leaves, any ideas what theyare please, cheers
- 13 Jun, 2010
Answers
Hi Have added photos, any ideas please
13 Jun, 2010
It's himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) - if you let it flower and set seed it will multiply enormously - the seeds shoot everywhere.
13 Jun, 2010
Should I pull it out then???
13 Jun, 2010
Well I would before it flowers
13 Jun, 2010
Many thanks I will go do it now, thanks again for all the replies, what a great forum.
Happy growing
13 Jun, 2010
Glad you joined us Treepot - we all learn from each other.
13 Jun, 2010
Certainly, it is very invasive.
13 Jun, 2010
Don't put the plant in your compost heap - they can resprout from the base and regrow again. I place them separately in a dry place until they completely die back. Pull out every single one you see and look around the borders of your plot for others to pull. When they seed they can shoot the seeds 10-15 feet. We had a 1/3 acre of the blighters to deal with and did it by hand weeding them. They are a notifiable weed and theres supposed to be a £2000 fine for allowing them to grow!! but my absent neighbour (with his derelict plot full of himalayan balsam and japanese knotweed!!!) isn't bothered by this rule.
13 Jun, 2010
I have pulled them and lay them on the ground to die off, then I was going to put them in the bin, thanks for the advice though its really helpful, cheers
13 Jun, 2010
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can you put a photo on? would make it easier to identify if you could
13 Jun, 2010