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Can I put Alkanet on my compost heap ?

I'm starting the battle of trying to get rid of as much alkanet as possible. 

Can I put it on the compost heap ?  I'm thinking no, but maybe my garden waste recycling might be better suited.  Have just filled two thirds of a bin in about 15 mins... otherwise I see a few trips to the tip ahead.

Any advice, how to get it under control ?

thanks, 

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Posts

  • Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123

    No peanuts burn it!. Alkanet is a perennial weed, never put perennial weeds on the compost heap, unless you are using a hot composter.

  • Peanuts3Peanuts3 Posts: 759

    thank you.  If I take it to the tip I assume the compost there will get hot enough to get rid of it. 

  • On the other hand the coarse leaves will make quite good compost. If you can bother to separate the roots from the leaves and dump just the former.

  • Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123

    Council compost heaps generate huge amounts of heat peanuts, far higher than most of us can manage. You can of course, if you have the cash, splash out on the ones in the current GW mag. Those will compost a human body!

  • Jag3Jag3 Posts: 7

    I live on Cape Cod Massachusetts USA. I get the impression that alkanet is an invasive weed to be avoided at all costs. I googled it but could not see a reference for such a weed. Please elaborate. Thank you, jagdoran

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    Hi Jagdoran 

    Green alkanet is a native British plant - on some soils it can be extremely invasive, on others it is not a nuisance.   I have no idea whether it grows in the countries of Northern America. 

    http://www.seasonalwildflowers.com/march/green-alkanet.html

    It's edible and in the past has been used as a wild vegetable - the flowers can be used in Pimms instead of borage flowers. http://www.eatweeds.co.uk/wild-green-tartlets 

    I have happily composted it, and it does make really good compost - but first I do what I do with all perennial weeds, and remove flowering tips and roots - they go on the bonfire or in the council bin - I only compost the lush green leaves and stems.


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • chickychicky Posts: 10,409

    So thats what its called !  I only ever knew it as "the thing that looks a bit like a forget me not with bigger leaves"image

  • I've got a lot of forget-me-nots growing in my garden right now. Or have I?! Now I'm wondering if its Alkanet. I'll have to get comparing!

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    If the stems and leaves are bristly then it's likely to be alkanet rather than forget-me-nots. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Steve 309Steve 309 Posts: 2,753

    ...and alkanet's MUCH bigger

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