One of the worst weeds that are difficult to eradicate is pink thistle. Among the people, it is also known as prickly thistle, field thistle. This plant is found almost everywhere (in fields, along roads, in wastelands and in pastures), preferring fertile and nitrogen-enriched soils.
External description
This perennial plant belongs to the Asteraceae family, capable of reaching a height of 120 cm. The erect stem is bare in the upper part, there are branches below, covered with hard leaves. They have an oblong shape, jagged edges and a bright green color. The lower stem leaves, gradually narrowing, form a winged petiole.
Flowering time - from June to October. Throughout the summer period, pink thistle is covered with baskets of small reed flowers of pink or red-violet color. In the evening, as well as in cloudy weather, they close. In place of the flower latera fruit is formed, which is a laterally flattened and curved achene. One plant can produce up to 6500 brilliant gray seeds. They have a furrowed surface and a falling crest, making them easily transported over long distances. Their germination can last for 20 years.
Thanks to this, the field thorn has excellent survival. Its botanical description is in many ways similar to other varieties of thistle - garden, yellow. They are all considered noxious weeds that are very difficult to get rid of.
Chemical composition
Vitamins, alkaloids were found in the leaves of this plant. Although its chemical composition is still very poorly studied, it is known that it contains fatty oils, tannins, inulin, and glycosides. This gives pink sow thistle an analgesic, wound healing and anti-inflammatory effect.
Useful properties
All parts of the plant are used to make medicines. Preparations based on the leaves and flowers of sow thistle improve blood formation, activate mental and physical activity, strengthen the immune system. With their help, you can get rid of tonsillitis, various inflammatory processes, hemorrhoids and jaundice. Sow thistle improves metabolism, lowers blood sugar, normalizes the menstrual cycle and restores the functioning of the central nervous system. Remedies prepared from the roots of this plant help with osteoarticular tuberculosis and fever. Grass is harvested during the flowering period, drying it in a darkventilated area.
Where sow thistle grows
Pink sow thistle (field thistle) is found almost everywhere: in the garden, in the field, near roads, in the garden. This completely unpretentious plant is able to populate on any soil, including dry and saline. But prefers moist black soil more. Sow thistle is common throughout the Eurasian continent: in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Siberia and the Far East.
Tough weed
All types of sow thistle reproduce both by seed and vegetatively. These are the most difficult weeds to eradicate (their photo and name can be found in this article). Numerous seeds of thistle have the ability to move through the air over considerable distances. The root system penetrates the soil so deeply that the plant is not afraid of any drought. In addition, thistle thistle roots have an amazing property - when they are damaged, they release many new shoots that rise in the form of seedlings to the surface. Thus, digging the site does not get rid of this weed, but only leads to its greater spread. Sow thistle roots are very fragile, so weeding only helps the weed to multiply.
How to fight?
There are several ways to get rid of pink thistle in the garden or at their summer cottage. The choice of the most appropriate one depends on the particular case. The main thing is to act quickly. As soon as pink thistle is seen on the site, control measures should be used immediately. Whenonly the first shoots appeared, the root did not go deep into the ground and you can easily pull it out of the ground. If the weed has already grown, the following methods are used:
- Use of herbicides. Chemicals are far from a harmless option, and they must be used carefully, excluding contact with other plants. It is necessary to spray only the ground part of the weed and, in accordance with the instructions, observe the indicated dosages. The treated leaves quickly wither, and the herbicide penetrates the root system of the plant along the stem, destroying it as well. Today, various herbicides are available ("Lontrel-300", "Lornet", "Agron"), from which almost all weeds die (the photo and name of the preparations should be familiar to every gardener).
- There is a more gentle remedy against thistle this is kerosene. They are also sprayed on the ground part of the weed. At the same time, kerosene has the ability to quickly evaporate, so other garden plants adjacent to thistle do not suffer.
- Weeding. The method is quite laborious, since the procedure is carried out repeatedly starting from early spring and throughout the summer. Weeding, carried out every two weeks, allows you to completely deplete the weed. Thistle is removed along with the rhizome, after which it is carefully weeded, destroying all remnants.
- Digging. Produced according to the same principle as weeding: the soil is dug up in such a way that not a single thistle root remains in the ground.
- Pruning. When seedlings appear with the formation ofweed from 1 to 4 leaves, the plant is removed using a flat cutter. Perform the procedure in such a way as not to damage the root system, otherwise it will lead to the rapid growth of new plants. If, nevertheless, such a situation has arisen, young shoots are also pruned in the rosette phase. Gradually, the rhizome will be depleted and will no longer be able to provide the emergence of new plants.
- Mulching. This is one of the easiest ways to control weeds. Even if the sow thistle is pink and breaks through the layer of mulch, it is plucked and placed in the compost. It is important not to delay the removal of the weed in order to prevent its seeding.
- Use green manure plants. Lupins, nettles, peas, alfalfa, rye, etc. are suitable for this role. After sowing these plants closer to autumn and waiting for them to germinate, the bed is covered with cardboard, leaving it in this form until spring. Not a single weed in this greenhouse can survive.
Using sow thistle
You don't always have to get rid of this plant. Thanks to the analgesic, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory properties of thistle, it is harvested for the preparation of infusions and decoctions that help with neurosis, headaches, improve metabolic processes, etc.
This plant is also used in cooking. Salads are prepared from fresh young leaves, and dried herbs are added to meat and fish dishes. Sow thistle sow in s alted water for at least 30 minutes before use to get rid of the bitterness characteristic of thistle.
Thistle is one of the best honey plants. Bees are very fond of this plant and from one hectare overgrown with thistlefields, can collect up to 140 kg of honey. It has a special aroma, a beautiful light yellow, almost white color and a very pleasant taste.
Thanks to a powerful rhizome penetrating deep into the ground, sow thistle receives minerals that are absent in the upper layer. Using the weed as mulch, experienced gardeners enrich the soil with it.
Contraindications
Use sow thistle for treatment and cooking should be careful, as it has a number of contraindications (pregnancy, breastfeeding, individual intolerance, etc.). Be sure to consult your doctor before using it.
