An interesting surprise discovery today, my own little transplanted patch of pigweed, accidentally imported from the old farm, growing strong in the shelter of three relocated and thriving rhubarbs (top right). I suppose some pigweed seed got shaken out of the root clumps of the transplants, and eventually made their way to germination. This is the first time I’ve seen pigweed on the new farm, and it instantly brought back a flood of memories from our multi-year…relationship at the old place. Not unpleasant memories, pigweed is forever a part of this tiny farm experience, still, it’s not missed. Nice visiting, now it’s time for a quick hand-weeding!
This post made me smile. Johnson grass is my “main” weed in my garden. The other day I was biking around town and saw some in a field. I was actually kinda startled at first to realize that it exists outside my little garden “realm.”
Mike, everyone wonders why you made the move to the new Tiny Farm. Many of us believe it’s because of the pigweed infestation you had at the old Tiny Farm. And now it has a foot hold at the new place…this is not good mike!
I can totally relate to the Pigweed infestation….ours is mixed with Bromegrass that we tilled under. Easy to pull though…that Pigweed.
pigweed is an indictor of high fertility in the soil….so pigweed infestion is not a bad thing if controlled…..just plant “heavy feeders” in that area.
if it was sow thistle or grasses then you have a problem.
The current and last month’s issues of AcresUSA (link: http://www.acresusa.com/magazines/magazine.htm has a couple of articles by Anne and Eric Nordell on controlling weeds by other than tillage. They talk about managing the soil’s fertility and using appropriate rotations to add fertility (but not too much). Very interesting and somewhat unusual ideas that are backed up by fertility measurements of their soil (in Pennsylvania). You might find their ideas worth pursuing.
Ohhh get while you still can! Kim
Pigweed is edible, so just harvest the tender tops and steam them. Then you won’t feel so bad about the weeds being in your garden. They sell them in Chinatown in San Francisco.
Altho in some cultures–Caribbean,Mexico, South America, Africa, India, and China.., it is a delicacy and not to be discarded, in many states including Idaho (mine), it is a noxious weed. It grows an inch a day and an adult plant has over 500 seeds, the seed hits the ground and produces active seeds itself its first day of growing roots. Many pigweed babies die well under 2 inches high and still can have over 100 seeds. Pigweed begone.