Japanese Knot Weed Fertiliser

Blowin · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 6:59 pm Post subject: Japanese Knot Weed Fertiliser

I've read that spuds are one of the crops that prefers an acid soil.

Somewhere recently I read that someone had tried eating Japanese Knot Weed and found it to be quite similar to rhubarb, i.e. presumably acidic, so it occurred to me that, providing I made sure there were no roots or seeds, and I chopped it up very small, is it likely to make good fertiliser? I do actually have a garden shredder which would make things easy.

Of course, at this time of year, all there is is last year's dead stalks and I'm wondering whether any of those with scientific knowledge could tell me if any of the acid is likely to still be present in them? That is, would they be usable to enhance the soil?

ian · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:33 pm Post subject:

you can always do avery simple litmus test yourself and get an answer to your query.

Seedling · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:27 am Post subject:

This is highly inadvisable. Japanese knotweed is an agressive invasive species that can regenerate from very small fragments of the parent plant not just seeds or plants. Once it has established, it is extremly difficult and expensive to eradicate. This could potentail pose you hige problems and I would definitely advise against it. It may even be illegal? But I am not sure

See http://invasivespeciesireland.com/

simonj · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:35 am Post subject:

Japanese knotweed!!!! That is absolutely the last thing I would ever use, eradicate at all costs more like it.
Kill it - kill it - kill it

tippben · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:12 am Post subject:

Yep, it is illegal to plant it, allow it to spread, or introduce it to a new area. In addition, it can grow from any small bit of stem. Shredding it up is a recipe for disaster! I have tried cooking it like rhubarb, and yes, it is edible, but tastes so disgusting that you'd have to be starving to bother.

Blowin · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 4:08 pm Post subject:

Thanks All. That's one for Room 101.

ceathru · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:20 pm Post subject:

Two years ago six bottles of Knotwine out of some of the Japanese Knotweed by which I'm surrounded. It was DELICIOUS, so much so that I've picked and frozen a whole heap of knotweed this year, enough for about 18 bottles of the stuff. If you want to give it a whirl, just google Japanese Knotweed Wine. Plenty of recipes out there!