This thing shoots seeds

tagwex · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 10:25 pm Post subject: This thing shoots seeds

I was working away on the greenhouse one evening last week and there were a few fertiliser bags of topsoil adjacent to me and occasionally I could hear this rustling sound coming from the bags. Knowing that I have a rat that has evaded several traps in the last few weeks I thought that this might be the source of the rustling but no. I had a poke around and noticed that this plant was springing seeds from it when I touched it on to the plastic bags. The seeds are maybe 25 to 30mm long and 3 or 4mm in diameter. Apologies that one of the photos is slightly out of focus. What the hell is it?

Greengage · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 6:47 am Post subject:

Cardamine hirsuta or Hairy Bittercrest one years seeding seven years weeding.

kindredspirit · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 7:21 am Post subject:

and known as "The Garden Centre Weed". Takes years and years to get rid of it.

tagwex · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 9:05 am Post subject:

Thanks lads, at least now I know what to call it when it gets a dose of weedkiller. I saw what you did there Greengage!

tippben · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 2:49 pm Post subject:

Phew! It's only bittercress! For I minute there, I thought Himalayan Balsam...

Good guy · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 8:30 pm Post subject:

No need for weed killer, it's dead easy to pull up. Having said that, it's a bugger to get rid of - let one plant set seed, at about 20 per pod, and you have years of weeding to follow. It's easiest spotted when in flower - the white flower heads make it pretty obvious and that's the time to pull or hoe it.

tagwex · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 9:46 pm Post subject:

But if I touch it the seeds disperse. Easier spray it.

Good guy · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 8:40 am Post subject:

Pull them when they flower, BEFORE they form seeds, or even when the seed pods are still fresh and green. Then no need to pollute the planet.

Good guy · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 9:43 pm Post subject:

The Weed Wand (blowtorch on a stick) is useful for tackling these "ephemeral" weeds, too. No chemicals poisoning the wildlife, no backache/sore knees! But use it BEFORE they set seed.

James Kilkelly · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 11:16 am Post subject:

shooting seeds you say........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsIojj4PzAo

slo-mo captures of shooting plants by the Smithsonian Institute

Well worth a watch.

tagwex · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 11:27 am Post subject:

kindredspirit · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 11:37 am Post subject:

I also think that Bittercress is able to communicate some sort of alarm system when one plant is hoisted unceremoniously out of the ground.

It's neighbouring cousins, if they're not also unceremoniously dispatched at the same time, will go into overdrive producing flower and seed in a very much shorter time. They stop growing upwards and put all their energy into producing seed as fast as possible.

Possibly it's a chemical smell or something but I've noticed that it's a fact. Maybe they're a little race of triffids practising to take over our gardens first, then the world. Smile

Good guy · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 1:36 pm Post subject:

A good piece of video. Vetch can shoot it's seeds surprisingly far. And as for Himalayan balsam, you'd need to wear body armour to go near a ripe plant!

Greengage · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 8:52 am Post subject:

Want something fun to plant try this Cyclanthera explodens available from http://www.realseeds.co.uk/cucumbers.html

Good guy · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 11:51 pm Post subject:

That does look like fun, all right. Interesting site - I never knew there were so many kinds of cucumber.