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Non invasive knotweed

sheilaegillamhGlJNM6PsheilaegillamhGlJNM6P Posts: 10
in Plants
Had to buy many different makes of compost this year as we extended our container planting. In one we thought we'd planted zebra beans and were happy they grew so fast until we realised what was actually growing was some form of knotweed. Fortunately it was not the invasive kind but not what we had planted - no beans for sure. The only place it could have come from was the compost. Anyone else had this problem?? 
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  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 2,656
    Weed seeds have been apparent in bought compost for a number of years - most are negligible and can easily be hoiked out - either when you spot them after the bag has been open to the light for a day or two or later when they sprout in your bed or container.
    Unless you are sure of the ID, I would treat anything which resembles Knotweed as invasive - not something you want to risk escaping into your garden.
    You could always contact the company involved and query their product ?
  • sheilaegillamhGlJNM6PsheilaegillamhGlJNM6P Posts: 10
    We wish we could remember what makes of compost we put in! Just know it took 420 litres of soil!! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,322
    Where did you get the seeds?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • sheilaegillamhGlJNM6PsheilaegillamhGlJNM6P Posts: 10
    They were obviously in the bag of compost!! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,322
    No - I mean the ones you planted. The beans. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 21,014
    Maybe it's persicaria polymorpha, looks a bit like the dreaded knotweed. I had a clump in my last garden and I found it would grow from pieces of root. Maybe there was a bit of unrotted root in the compost.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,779
    edited July 2021
    Are we talking about Japanese Knotweed, Fallopia japonica … or is it something like Persicaria  
    maculosa aka Redshank, Spotted knotweed and others?  The latter is  a common agricultural weed often found on newly disturbed land … and is related to some lovely garden-worthy Persicaria. 

    If so, it’s a bit of a nuisance but nothing to worry about, despite the ‘Knotweed’ name. 

    😊 
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,322
    I was wondering if the beans were from a certain auction site, which is why I asked where they came from. There's been a lot of that this year.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • sheilaegillamhGlJNM6PsheilaegillamhGlJNM6P Posts: 10
    Fairy girl - zebra beans from jparkers.
    Busy Lizzie - if it flowered like that we might have kept it!! 
    Dove from above - yes a persicaria. Shame when we expecting to grow beans. Not even a nice persicaria either - all leaves and tiny pink/white flowers.
    Thanks to you all for your answers 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,322
    In that case - remove it as best you can, and see if the beans are still in there. With a bit of luck, they'll still germinate. If not, you may need to re sow, if you have some left  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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