Weeds in the Experimental Kumara Garden
The weeds present in the Robin Hood Bay garden in both the
1999-2000 and 2000-2001 growing seasons were all European
introduced plants. These are are:
black nightshade Solanum nigrum
catsear Hypochaeris radicata
woolly mullein Verbascum thapsus
dock Rumex obtusifolius
puha/sow thistle Sonchus oleraceus
yarrow Achillea millefolium
narrow-leaved plantain Plantago lanceolata
Scotch thistle Circium vulgare
red clover Trifolium repens
white clover Trifolium pratense
sheep's sorrel Rumex acetosella
pennyroyal Mentha pulegium
The additional species found only in the second season 2000-2001 are:
dove's foot Geranium molle
mouse-eared chickweed Cerastium glomeratum
It is interesting that all these plants are introduced
European species. It raises the distinct possibility that
pre-European Maori gardens may have been relatively weed free,
and therefore may not have required a great deal of attention
for satisfactory growth of kumara. This would be very important
for people having a mobile settlement pattern.
In the first season at Robin Hood Bay these weeds grew in great
abundance.
The photograph below shows the same garden after weeding:
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