Dandelions!

Strangely , I notice a band no more than 2 ft. wide along the edges of the motorway that's just a mass of dandelions , with very few if any further out . I wonder if that's the bit they mow regularly and so the "clock" seeds can more easily establish ?
 

DeeGee

Member
Location
North East Wales
I think this must be ‘The Year of the Dandelions’.

I have some truly magnificent crops here despite the inclement weather; but possibly aided by the lack of competition from grass which seems most reluctant to compete with the dandies.

In fact I would say that I probably have the best crop of dandelions in the UK, were it not for the fact that it would undoubtedly trigger a plethora of counter claims, along with irrefutable photographic evidence supplied from all areas of this green and yellow septic isle, proving that my crops are not even in the top twenty, thousand, in the country.

So, let us just say that with the mowers now moving into the more forward crops, early indications are that my dandelions look like yielding a rather disappointing fifty thousand heads per hectare.
 

ColinV6

Member
Was just having this conversation yesterday. There’s loads round here too. Something we hardly see in a grass field usually.
 

haymaker80

Member
Location
Stafford
Loads here too. Saw this little article on Facebook a couple of weeks ago.....

🌼💛 “Hello, I'm a dandelion. A lot of people call me a weed but I'm a friend and come to help you! . When you see me, remember that I'm the ONLY one who wants and can grow in that particular spot. Because: . Either the soil is too compact / hard / stomped and I want to loosen it for you with my roots. . Or there is too little calcium in the soil - don't worry, I will replenish that for you with the dying of my leaves. . Or the soil is too acidic. But I will also improve that for you if you give me the chance. Or a mixture of the above reasons, of course. 😊 . I'm here because your soil needs my help so best you let me grow without disturbing me! When everything is fixed, I will disappear again, I promise! . Are you trying to remove me prematurely with my root? However meticulous you are, I will return 2x as strong! Just until your soil is improved. . You can even tell by my growth at which stage my help is at. If my leaves are flat on the ground then I'm far from ready but if they all reach up then I'm already a long way on my way. . Something completely different is that I am 1 of the first bloomers in spring so I will announce spring / summer for you. . During the day when it's hot, I open my flowers but in the evening when it cools off I close them again quickly. In fact, if it's not hot enough during the day I won't open them at all! . My flowers are the first food for insects after hibernation and unlike most other plants, I have pollen AND nectar, not merely one OR the other! And I am generous with them! 🤪😉 . My flowers are even delicious for you people by the way, did you know? I used to be called ′′honey (or gold) of the poor′′ because my flowers are so sweet in e.g. jam, sauce or salad! The internet is full of recipes - check them out. But wait until the end of May or later before you start picking and even then, don't pick everything yet! The biodiversity and bees will be very grateful!” 🌼🌼🌼 (Paula Kok - De Boer)
 

choochter

Member
Location
aberdeenshire
There many more here this year too. I don't mind them. We used to have an old Highland pony who loved them.
We'd be sauntering along and she would side step, scoff a dandelion and walk on before I even had a chance to gather up the reins .:)
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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