Yesterday I posted an update about our fruit trees CLICK HERE and I mentioned at the end of the post that we had an "odd" occurrence. Here it is...
So for the last few years, we've used this product and loved it. It's the EZ-Straw mulch. The package says it biodegrades, just leave in place. That's what we've done the last few years. Never any problem.
Last October/November, I pulled all the weeds and put this mulch down for Winter. Here is the picture the day it was added.
Nice and neat.
Since they are fruit trees and were going dormant for the Winter, I stopped watering and it was only rain that took care of the watering from then on.
Here they are are as of this past weekend.
See all that green stuff?
Whoa. Wait. What?
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| EZ Straw mulch |
Closer up, here is one bed a few months back...
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| EZ Straw sprouting |
...and here is the same bed again this past weekend. So what is that growing in them?
It's apparently wheat.
Yep, the straw from EZ-Straw package says it is made from wheat grass straw. It's not supposed to sprout, I mean, that sort of defeats the purpose doesn't it? But yep, I guess you can say that we are now growing WHEAT at the farm, ha.
Ironically it has kept the grass out of the beds because it is really just clumps of wheat growing and they pull up easily.
While we'd like to leave it there until it turns brown and dries out so we could use it for some decor in the Fall, as you can see, it's just big and makes it all look so messy and overgrown. Does anyone know if we harvest it like it is now, green? Can we hang it up to dry out? We'd like to get something like this that we can decorate with but not sure if pulling it green will result in this later or not.
Anyone know? Or have any other ideas on how to use our green new wheat?
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/harvest-wheat-dried-arrangements-71936.html
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. I wonder if this will work for green. I'll have to do some checking.
DeleteDoes it have green seeds on it? If so, they are probably similar to rice and are liquid-y at this stage and won’t dry properly. Perhaps you could dig up a few plants and transplant them to an area of your garden and let them grow to maturity.
ReplyDeleteThere are green seeds but I haven't checked them. I will do that. Not a bad idea to just stick in the soil maybe in the unused bed in the garden. They do pull up easily. Hmm, I might try that. Or maybe just do half one way and half another, ha.
Deletethis is what happenes to my straw bales every fall once they get rained on.
ReplyDeleteI guess it goes with the territory.
DeleteWheat, huh? How does wheat get turned into flour to bake bread? That might be an interesting project.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
The wheat berries do become something, but I don't think we'd have enough to amount to much, LOL.
DeleteHarvest it,grind it,make bread!
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of interesting that this has happened now I wonder if a plot of land with some planted on purpose wheat might be fun to try out.
DeleteIt sounds like fun to me because I don't have to take care of it. I'll just look at your photos.
DeleteDefinitely wheat! How funny. At least it's pretty to look at.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that weird? Oh well you are right it is very pretty that's for sure. A new experience for us, ha.
DeleteYou definately have seeds there. I'd just use a scythe or weed whip to cut them off at the base and lay them out in some sheltered spot to dry. You should be able to end up with some pretty wheat to use for display later.
ReplyDeleteI also garden in raised beds and after trying many things cardboard seems to work best for me. I break down plain cardboard boxes and put a couple of layers down then mulch with pine straw. I have to replenish the card board about once a year. This seems to keep the weed pulling to a minimum for me.
ReplyDeleteYour fruit trees look great.