Frankenflowers (moved it to the correct spot)

ispinwool 4/20/2019, 2:39 pm

Hypothetical question: if y'all have a nice out of the way corner that could be used as a SFG, but there were Frankenflowers growing there every year, how would you get rid of them?

I have a spot that I've been trying to use for y.e.a.r.s. but the Frankenflowers keep taking over. (I honestly have no idea what they are---about 8-9' tall, heavy green stems with a head of leaves that bloom with multiple solid yellow daisy-like flowers) I've dug, cut, Round-upped, smothered....they always come back.
Come to think of it...we've been here 24 years...I'm gettin too old for wrestling with 9' monsters!

OhioGardener 4/20/2019, 2:59 pm

ispinwool, could you post a picture of them? Do they look like the pictures below? If so, they are Sunchoke, or Jerusalem Artichoke, which are very durable growers that continue to spread by underground tubers which are edible (taste like water chestnuts in salads). They have to be dug out to stop them, but fortunately they have very shallow growth habits.

I would dig them out as soon as they begin sprouting, getting as many tubers as possible, then cover the ground with heavy cardboard which is overlapped to ensure no open spaces, and cover the cardboard with heavy mulch to a depth of 6" to 8" (wood chips works excellently). That should smother any plants in the area, and the raised beds can be placed on top of the mulch.

Frankenflowers (moved it to the correct spot) Suncho10

Frankenflowers (moved it to the correct spot) Suncho11

countrynaturals 4/20/2019, 3:57 pm

ispinwool wrote:Hypothetical question: if y'all have a nice out of the way corner that could be used as a SFG, but there were Frankenflowers growing there every year, how would you get rid of them?

I have a spot that I've been trying to use for y.e.a.r.s. but the Frankenflowers keep taking over. (I honestly have no idea what they are---about 8-9' tall, heavy green stems with a head of leaves that bloom with multiple solid yellow daisy-like flowers) I've dug, cut, Round-upped, smothered....they always come back.
Come to think of it...we've been here 24 years...I'm gettin too old for wrestling with 9' monsters!

Do the pollinators like them? Do they bloom early or late when the pollinators need food? Do you see exotic caterpillars on them? Do they create enough mass to be a compost or mulch crop? Any chance youre overlooking some hidden benefit? You've really got my curiousity going. Any chance of a pic?

PS. I'm sincerely trying to un-read that mention of Round-up.

countrynaturals 4/20/2019, 4:09 pm

Could they be multi-bloom sunflowers?
https://www.highcountrygardens.com/perennial-plants/helianthus-sunflower/helianthus-maximiliana-santa-fe?adpos=1o3&scid=scplp23221&sc_intid=23221&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhuvlBRCeARIsAM720Hqd2_mRh0942H5CEHsftR7lH8Rh3YWliVQzJ7PRKIzQToxrqpDL4wMaAu5OEALw_wcB

This is just one example. There are multiple varieties. Here are some more.
https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS782US782&biw=1396&bih=657&tbm=shop&ei=hny7XKquNMrKswXfpaeQDQ&q=%22multi+bloom%22+sunflower&oq=%22multi+bloom%22+sunflower&gs_l=psy-ab.3..33i299k1l3.26338.30849.0.32490.2.2.0.0.0.0.152.286.0j2.2.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.1.151....0.eHcZ_POwd8M

countrynaturals 4/20/2019, 4:17 pm

countrynaturals wrote: OG:
"Come to think of it...we've been here 24 years...I'm gettin too old for wrestling with 9' monsters!"

I think I'm gonna play for their team (Roundup, indeed Evil or Very Mad

)

ispinwool 4/20/2019, 4:44 pm

OG: the pics you posted are extremely similar...but those look bushier than what I'm plagued with. Sorry, no pics of them from me--they die out every winter and start afresh late spring.

The bees like them but they're not early bloomers so not a source of needed food right off the bat.

As for the Round-up...it is a fact of my life. I always say I'm a lousy gardener but I honestly don't know if that's true or my hubby just gets over enthusiastic with the Round-up. He uses a LOT of it and doesn't consider wind or the direction it might be blowing.

this is the corner I'm hoping to reclaim (old pics of the last time I cleared it out--I found some very hardy, brave Peonies in there!!)...sorry...the pics are kinda big!

Frankenflowers (moved it to the correct spot) Sfgaft10

Frankenflowers (moved it to the correct spot) Sfgbef10

ispinwool 4/22/2019, 7:43 am

countrynaturals wrote:Could they be multi-bloom sunflowers?
https://www.highcountrygardens.com/perennial-plants/helianthus-sunflower/helianthus-maximiliana-santa-fe?adpos=1o3&scid=scplp23221&sc_intid=23221&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhuvlBRCeARIsAM720Hqd2_mRh0942H5CEHsftR7lH8Rh3YWliVQzJ7PRKIzQToxrqpDL4wMaAu5OEALw_wcB

This is just one example. There are multiple varieties. Here are some more.
https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS782US782&biw=1396&bih=657&tbm=shop&ei=hny7XKquNMrKswXfpaeQDQ&q=%22multi+bloom%22+sunflower&oq=%22multi+bloom%22+sunflower&gs_l=psy-ab.3..33i299k1l3.26338.30849.0.32490.2.2.0.0.0.0.152.286.0j2.2.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.1.151....0.eHcZ_POwd8M

thanks for the links CN...but I honestly don't think they're sunflowers...they're tubers and it seems like if I miss one teeny tuber, the spot is inundated all over again.

OG: Newspapers didn't kill them didn't nor did weed cloth. I'll put the cardboard down as you suggested.

thanks y'all that replied!!

countrynaturals 4/22/2019, 10:43 am

ispinwool wrote:
thanks for the links CN...but I honestly don't think they're sunflowers...they're tubers and it seems like if I miss one teeny tuber, the spot is inundated all over again.

It they're sunchokes, maybe you should try them before you destroy them. Some folks really like them.

ispinwool 4/23/2019, 7:46 am

countrynaturals wrote:
ispinwool wrote:
thanks for the links CN...but I honestly don't think they're sunflowers...they're tubers and it seems like if I miss one teeny tuber, the spot is inundated all over again.

It they're sunchokes, maybe you should try them before you destroy them. Some folks really like them.

I guess if I'd been the one that planted them and was SURE what they were (and if my family liked water chestnuts), I might give it a go...but I really, really want that spot to be productive! I like flowers but there aren't many I'd eat. I've attempted to plant other things there (after a huge purge of Frankenflower) but they get choked out every time.
My son works for 84 Lumber and he's bringing me cardboard and my boards to build my boxes.
Stay tuned! Smile

RJARPCGP 4/23/2019, 12:44 pm

The OP said, "Round-upped". Oof! affraid

ispinwool 5/1/2019, 3:13 pm

So, anyway, here is a baby frankenflower......

Frankenflowers (moved it to the correct spot) Img_2020

Frankenflowers (moved it to the correct spot) Img_2021

**sanderson** 5/2/2019, 5:35 am

So cute!

ispinwool 5/2/2019, 8:08 am

...they may be cute now but in July, August and Sept they get massive and choke e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.
The area is now covered with thick cardboard and the boards are here for assembly--I'll FINALLY get my box set up (this weekend) and get a few seeds in! Very Happy

**sanderson** 5/2/2019, 12:37 pm

Excited for you, Ispin.

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