Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: lacaya on June 25, 2012, 20:32

Title: Are these cabbages?
Post by: lacaya on June 25, 2012, 20:32

Please could someone identify these plants for me?  I have had a close look and the one with all the little pods seems to be some sort of brassica but there are no leaves left to tell which type. They have cabbagey stalks though.

The other plant with the yellow flowers has leaves like celery but doesn't taste like it   :unsure:

I just want to know if these are worth keeping before I start getting down to business.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Are these cabbages?
Post by: Madame Cholet on June 25, 2012, 21:37

the pods look a bit like rape

Title: Re: Are these cabbages?
Post by: SnooziSuzi on June 25, 2012, 21:42

the second pic looks like parsley that's gone to seed so is probably something from the carrot family; my guess based on what I can see in the pic is flat leaved parsley or perhaps a parsnip gone to seed.

Pods on the first pic DO look like rape which is a brassica

Title: Re: Are these cabbages?
Post by: lacaya on June 26, 2012, 00:29

That's interesting.... Do you mean the rape that is made into cooking oil? If so, that can definitely come out.

I think you might have something with parsnip, I'll have to dig one up now and see what's on the other end of it.

Thanks to both!

Title: Re: Are these cabbages?
Post by: Madame Cholet on June 26, 2012, 22:14

Quote from: lacaya on June 26, 2012, 00:29

That's interesting.... Do you mean the rape that is made into cooking oil? If so, that can definitely come out.

yes i walk through a field full of it on route to the lotty it looks just like that now.



edit to fix quote

Title: Re: Are these cabbages?
Post by: lacaya on June 27, 2012, 20:56

Parsnip confirmed!  Well spotted, thanks.

P.S. I could understand seeds blowing in but generally, would anyone grow Rape on their allotment?  Just thinking about the process it has to go through to make it safe for human consumption and have realised that I didn't mention this was in a deliberate row...

Title: Re: Are these cabbages?
Post by: Nikkithefoot on June 27, 2012, 21:03

Can't really see the leaves on plant 2, if its not something you planted or on a previously disused plot it could be ragwort, which is poisonous.

Title: Re: Are these cabbages?
Post by: lacaya on June 27, 2012, 21:15

I've just got this allotment so am trying to find out what I've inherited and whether it's worth keeping. The yellow flowered, celery type leafed plant is definitely parsnip; dug one up about an hour ago (forgive me, don't know why I didn't think of doing that earlier).

I've just googled ragwort images and actually have some growing in my garden!

The seed pod plant has a cabbage type stalk but all the leaves have long gone.

Title: Re: Are these cabbages?
Post by: plum crumble on June 27, 2012, 23:32

well the trouble is, it has been such a windy year to date, that you could have had seeds blown in from anywhere around. I can imagine you have Rape in your plot without anyone deliberately planting it.