[Unclesam]

Hi All,

Firstly, apologies if posting in the wrong thread/forum.
Also I am rather enjoying reading other peoples stories on here, its very helpfull.

Anyway, after three years wait i recently got my allotment.  It has been untended for what looks like 2-3 years.

I've been weeding and cultivating and planting and have loads of stuff coming through now, but while ive been clearing the place up i've been leaving stuff in that looks "interesting".

to press ive inherited a load of comfrey plants, a load of chives and a 5 ft square bed of strawberries thats coming on splendind, as well as what i think are 2 plum trees and some blackurrants.

Anyway, one of the things ive left in, is something i can't quite figure out.  Its currently siting between some onions ive put in.  It does look like it has been planted on purpose because there are quite a few of these in straightish rows.  It's quite spiky to the touch as well, so weeding round my onions is a bit of a prickly affair.  At the mo the plants are about 7 inch tall.

Ill try my best to attach the photos by photobuket




Anyway, any help will be greatly appreciated.

I did have a poke around on google and i kept coming up with thistles, but i'm not sure.  My mum also had a look and the nearest thing she came up with was burdock.

If it means anthing, these are coming up right near where a lot of comfrey is coming up so it cound be something "medicinal"

Thanks in advance for any help, i dont want to dig them up if theyre usefull!

Cheers

UncleSam


Edit to make the photos rather than links display.

[gowing238]

dunno if this is any help but they look like radish leaves to me!!

[mumofstig]

Looks like Borage to me...got loads on the plot. Lovely blue flowers

[Trillium]

I'm thinking borage as well.

[arugula]

Mmm, Pimms anyone?  :happy:

[DD.]

With a radish in it? 

[arugula]

I'll skip the radish this time.

[gowing238]

ha ha ha!! I said looked like not was!!

[Domino]

Borage - planted it one year, had loads ever since!
Very good for bees so I leave as much in as possible and just pull out the ones that are in the way.

[Unclesam]

Aw, thanks everyone.

Sorry i din't reply earlier.

It most certainly is borage!  how did you know that!
Just goes to show what people know when you ask around!

I did a bit of googling this morning and found out that apparently its a blackfly magnet, so it makes sense that i found it near to the fruit bushes.

I did read the pimms thing as well - will have to try that.

Another google post said they use it a lot in italy mixed with ricotta to make canelloni.  There's also some articles about the herbal benefits and companion planting benefits to tomatoes and strawberries.

It seems to do quite a lot the old borage, I dont quite know what to use it for now!


Thanks everyone for your advice!

Unclesam