[brianc]

  Hello all
            Today I discovered a new ( to me ) weed , it was as thick as a pencil and red in colour
            I looked on the web and the nearest thing I could find was a Madder root.
            People grow it as a dye.
            Has anybody got any idea if its a nuisance.
                                    Many thanks .

       
                                                                                                                                                                           

[Yorkie]

I've never heard of it - does it have foliage, flowers and/or a scent?

[JohnB47]

Just looked it up on the interweb. It's proper name is rubia tinctorum and it's the roots that are red. Is that what you're describing, or do you mean a red stem? The description 'as thick as a pencil' doesn't quite fit with the images I've seen.

Could you post a pic?

[brianc]

Yes the root is red I have not seen the top growth as its a new plot and I skimmed the top off.
I have only just started digging .The other plotters told me it has light green leaves.
Not very helpful.

[GrannieAnnie]

Not this one is it?  That's Japanese Knotweed!

[DD.]

  If it is!

[GrannieAnnie]

Definitely, but I did get rid of mine in the end DD!   

I think!   

[sunshineband]

Definitely, but I did get rid of mine in the end DD!   

I think!   

It is a bit of  lurker, so keep your eyes skinned 

[Totty]

Give it a spray.

Totty

[Goosegirl]

If it is JK, I believe the stems are hollow because that's where they inject the weedkiller. OMG, let's pray it is madder. Rose madder is one of those watercolour sin your paintbox. Have you any leaves to take a pic of to help us? Also, if it is JK, it grows jolly quickly too,, so should show some in the next couple of days.

[3 allotments]

JK weed roots go deep and are very long we were over run with the stuff when i used to live in wales get rid of it quickly with round up before it spreads its spores or roots 

[GrannieAnnie]

Definitely, but I did get rid of mine in the end DD!   

I think!   

It is a bit of  lurker, so keep your eyes skinned 

Haven't seen it for about 5 years, I kept digging deeper and deeper and spraying it with Clinic Ace.  And when Brian laid the new patio last year he dug down about 4 ft to bury a load of hardcore under the patio and there was no sign of it, so fingers crossed its gone!

[brianc]

Thanks for all the replies on my madder weed query.
Speaking to other ploters on site told me that 2 years ago a family of Chinese people had my plot and they
use to grow all sorts of strange things , so my roots could be anything.
I will wait to see what comes up later in the year.
Hope I do not get raided.

[Snoop]

Might it be amaranth?

[mumofstig]

Who knows - without a picture