What is this?

chocolatepop 7/16/2010, 10:57 pm

help me identify what this is friend or foe:

What is this? Img_8117

I "think" I planted it What is this? Icon_redface

pattipan 7/16/2010, 11:28 pm

Kind of looks like Megan's amaranth???

Or...it could be the common weed we call Redroot Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) which is not the edible type like Megan's. See this thread: https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/general-sfg-talk-f5/amaranth-t2669.htm

Patti

Megan 7/17/2010, 7:36 am

Don't try eating it until you get a positive ID!

Also, for reference... the large leaves on edible amaranth, are not edible. They contain high amounts of oxalic acid. I am still trying to find some sort of size guide on where the cutoff point is. (I'm sure it's not an exact science and probably varies by the soil and region, etc.... I just don't know if, say, hand-sized leaves are okay, vs. the really small ones.)

chocolatepop 7/26/2010, 12:50 am

im thinking it is pigweed, but ive never seen it before. Im letting it grow cause... its pretty What is this? Icon_redface

it about 4ft tall now anf the stalk is THICK. Ill pluck it before it seeds though.

ander217 7/26/2010, 8:32 am

Absolutely pick it before it goes to seed, Chocolatepop. Pigweeds produce a LOT of seeds. They still pop up all over our garden, several years after we introduced them through some free horse manure we were told had been composted. Be careful when you pull them as the mature plants often have spines along the stems.

Their long roots bring up micronutrients from the soil, and the tall plants make good mulch as long as they haven't developed seeds.

I don't think I could ever grow grain amaranth in my garden because I'd never know for sure which was a good plant and which was the inedible weed. I've even had them come up in my SFG boxes.

chocolatepop 7/26/2010, 10:54 am

ander217 wrote:Absolutely pick it before it goes to seed, Chocolatepop. Pigweeds produce a LOT of seeds. They still pop up all over our garden, several years after we introduced them through some free horse manure we were told had been composted. Be careful when you pull them as the mature plants often have spines along the stems.

Their long roots bring up micronutrients from the soil, and the tall plants make good mulch as long as they haven't developed seeds.

I don't think I could ever grow grain amaranth in my garden because I'd never know for sure which was a good plant and which was the inedible weed. I've even had them come up in my SFG boxes.

Humm, I wonder if that is where its coming form. I havent seen any thing else like this in my garden area, or around the yard. I'll look more, because it is really a pretty looking weed. I'll take pictures later. Ive been looking at Bakers Creek and am "considering" purchasing some amaranth, i like the red and golden looking ones. I need some height and think it, with holly hocks and sunflowers, would look nice...right?

Megan 7/26/2010, 6:14 pm

Chocolatepop, I would be GLAD to give you some amaranth seed. I have the Orange Giant one from Baker Creek. I have several plants in my garden right now and they are monsters. The biggest one is around 9 feet tall, maybe more? Well over the top of my trellises. They are starting to form seed heads now.

chocolatepop 7/28/2010, 1:24 am

Oh Megan that would be amazingly wonderful!

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