Weed proves a huge pest

THE DAYS are getting longer, the nights are not as cold and, in my part of the country at least, we’ve had quite a lot of rain. All this has resulted in a massive explosion in plant growth.

This is particularly noticeable along the road verges, and the plants that are growing the fastest around here are a couple of large clumps of Japanese Knotweed on a bend in the road a couple of kilometres from my house. These plants can actually put on 10 centimetres a day at this time of year until they reach their full height of nearly three metres. Another less common species called Giant Knotweed can grow even taller.

In winter the plant dies back, storing all its nutrients in underground rhizomes, but leaving distinctive stems above ground that are green speckled with red and purple and look a bit like brightly coloured bamboo canes. At this time of year it has large, oval leaves and, later on, sprays of small cream-coloured flowers on zig-zag stalks. It’s a relation of the garden climber Russian Vine.