Home»Weed Control
Quickweed , also know as Galinsoga parviflora , is a common native to Central America , but I ’ve project it in many parts of the mankind , including Connecticut , New Hampshire , Massachusetts , and Vermont .
I just spotted Galinsoga parviflora in my kale garden and thought it ’d be a unspoilt chance to show you how to identify and control it . I ’ve also discussed some of the little - bed yet amazing uses of quickweed .
Galinsoga parviflora (quickweed) with flowers.©Alex Worley, Gardenine
allow ’s dive in .
What is quickweed?
Quickweed ( Galinsoga parviflora ) is a herbaceous annual sens in the daisy kinsfolk of plants , aboriginal to tropical America , mainly Central and South America . It grows 4 to 24 inches marvelous and give rise little efflorescence in clusters ; each flower with 5 , 3 - toothed white petals around a yellow center .
Galinsoga parviflora is named after an 18th - century Spanish phytologist who introduce the plant in America .
Since the name is hard to recollect , most people call the weed gallant soldier , galinsoga , quickweed , white potato gage , and lesser quickweed , among many other name .
The name quickweed alludes to the fact that gallant soldier reproduces rapidly . A individual plant produces about 7000 source , which germinate straight off after diffusion . Therefore , quickweed can have several generation each season , even though it is an yearly weed .
The weed spreads rapidly and can take over gardens apace if not control .
Taxonomy
As per this taxonomic classification , you ’ll point out that quickweed belongs to the same syndicate as the helianthus plant . It is also known as the daisy family line , which is known for flowers that cluster into peak heads .
Identification
identify galinsoga is quite easy . Leaves and flower are clear-cut with alone characteristics . I ’ve described them alongside exposure to facilitate you visually ID the weed in your own garden .
Leaves
The leaves of quickweed have an opposite system , meaning they grow in dyad on opposite side along the hairy stem.(See picture below ) .
The leaves arelance - shaped or ovatewithtoothed edgesand are incubate in midget hairs that give them a distinctive fuzzy texture when felt with a finger .
Each foliage has a leafstalk that attach it to the stem and a few prominent veins running from the foot to the tip . The underside of each leaf evince a clear meshing of veins that are clear visible . ( See my television below ) .
Galinsoga leave are all green , betoken fertile nitrogen content .
Stems
The stem are light dark-green , circular in crossing - section , and comprehend in lilliputian easygoing hair . The stems lack any wings or ridgepole as you could see in the closemouthed - up photo I took below .
Flowers
Flowers and leave are the primary identifying feature of quickweed . I find the weed easier to identify as soon as it enters its florescence point .
Thesmall daisy - alike flowersbloom in clump groups right at the tips of the hairy stems . Eachsmall flower has 5 , 3 - toothed whitened petal ring a yellow disk - shaped centre .
The petal spread outwards from the yellow center , which contains the procreative parts of the flower . I endeavor to zoom in enough so that you may see the construction of the heyday in the photo below .
Galinsoga stem with hairs.©Alex Worley, Gardenine
Roots
Galinsoga parviflora starts from a exclusive taproot and soon grows pocket-size fibrous roots branching out from it . The taproot allows it to access wet deeply in the territory while the fibrous ascendant near the surface are great for absorbing nutrient .
Size
Quickweed is a small - sized herb , reaching about 30 inches tall , consort tothis Wikipedia page . However , their sizing is pendant on the availability of nutrients and wet .
Those in my garden grow fast , but some along pathway remain poor even at due date . This could designate unfavourable growing condition , which could mean deficient food for the flora .
Seeds and Dispersal
A single galinsoga weed can bring forth over 7000 seeds , meaning their dispersal can contribute to serious invasions in your garden .
Some sources , such as the Rutgers University Cooperative Extension note thatseeds can stay put in the soil for up to 4 yearseven though many of them may not subsist past the first year if they do n’t germinate .
Dispersal is in the main by wind and farm agents , such as equipment and human activity . Some till practices , such as moldboard plowing , burry seeds deeply in the soil and can help in controlling haired galinsoga sess . More on this subsequently .
Galinsoga flowers up-close.©Alex Worley, Gardenine
Galinsoga produces source speedily , lead in several generations per yr . The seed have little to no sleeping and will quickly burgeon forth when peril to light and tender temperatures above 55 ° F . This is why the weed becomes dominant in gardens between spring and the onset of fall when temperature are lucky .
How to get rid of quickweed
Galinsoga seeds germinate promptly and apace when exposed to light . Therefore , control drill should target at forbid come product and dispersal .
I seek to reduce the number of successful generation as much as possible to free my gardens of galinsoga for good . In addition , I recommend a multifarious approach to control this prolific seed manufacturer .
Below , I ’ve discourse the various quickweed control bill that work for me :
Roots of a quickweed.©Alex Worley, Gardenine
Cultural Control
The first line of defense is to prevent quickweed from install itself in the first place . Maintain healthy soil and vigorous garden plants that outcompete weeds .
For lesson , if the sess is stubborn in your lawn , arise and keep up a thick lawn to block sunlight , discouraging germination . Mow high ( 3 - 4 in ) to shade the soil surface .
In garden , spread mulch 3 - 4 inches stocky to block light and suppress sprouting .
It also helps to clean garden creature after working in infested areas of your yard to prevent spread .
Manual removal
Hand - drag quickweed seedlingswhen populations are broken . You require to scrutinise your garden right from outpouring when the grime begins to warm up up .
Smothering
For heavily infested areas , smother quickweed using tarps or mulch to jam light and break germination . A black tarpaulin or landscape painting fabric shape well .
Remove the tarpaulin after 2 - 3 weeks , and crop or flame weed ( if applicable ) the go forth seedling before they dress new seedheads . restate this procedure until the semen bank is deplete .
Repeated smothering is effective at hold a quickweed plot of ground in 2 - 3 years . With every subsequent season , the population of Galinsoga parviflora will continue to minify so long as you do n’t allow the weed go to seed .
CAUTION : Exercise extreme aid when flame - weed with propane - fueled devices around desirable plants to preclude damage their foliage .
Rototilling
In a garden that ’s heavily infested with quickweed , I commend rototilling . Rototill infested garden beds thoroughly after each crop to bury quickweed seeds deep in the land where they can not emerge .
commend when I order burying the seeds late in the grunge prevents most of them from germinating ? It turns out that it is a great style of controlling galinsoga population .
Delay planting for 2 - 3 weeks then shallowly cultivate to kill newly germinated weeds . In lawn , meat aerate and overseed to improve grass density .
Chemical control
As a last recourse , employ broadleaf post - emerging herbicides such as those containing 2,4 - D or glyphosate to control the weeds .
I do not use weed killer in my garden , but theUniversity of Florida IFAS Extensionrecommends “ herbicide label for use in nurseries and landscape painting … such as glufosinate ( Finale ) , diquat ( Reward ) , or pelargonic Zen ( Scythe ) ” for controlling majestic soldier .
My advice is always to keep up label directions carefully .
For bombastic infestations , consider replant with raw weed - liberal surface soil . Maintain good sanitation recitation to prevent re - plague .
Uses and benefits
While reckon a troublesome weed in many parts of the macrocosm , galinsoga has some good uses that have made it a useful herb in certain culture .
Here are some of its uses :
Culinary uses
In South and Central America , where it is called guascas , the young leaves and shoot of galinsoga areeaten raw in saladsor cooked as a pot herb . It also flavors a local Colombian dish calledajiaco .
Both the leaves and stems are cranky and described as having a flavor resonant of artichoke .
Medicinal benefits
Traditional medicine systems utilize galinsoga for a number of aim health benefits .
I foundthis research articlethat shows that “ G. parviflora herb extract has likely antioxidant , anti - inflammatory and Hyazyme - inhibiting compound . ”The paper also lists the anti - rabble-rousing , analgesic , antioxidant , and anti - malarial uses of quickweed . control it out for o.k. detail .
I trust you found this article utilitarian and educative . If you have question , comment below or e-mail me at alex@gardenine.com .
