oxalis

habitat_gardener · August 19, 2014

So the weedy yard has tons of oxalis bulbs. We've been sheet-mulching -- which, in other gardens, has gone a long ways toward getting rid of bermuda grass and bindweed. But oxalis...all those little bulbs...

If you've successfully grown a garden despite oxalis, what worked?

We're putting a new raised bed in part of the yard and filling it with imported soil etc., but I know the oxalis will be lurking a foot below the surface. Would it be worthwhile to try to dig them up before adding the raised bed?

peppero · August 20, 2014

I am sure many people have to deal with it. I use it as compost material.

jon

Tracydr · August 20, 2014

Maybe eat them? The roots and leaves are edible. I read that oca is an oxalis.

ChiliPeppa · September 4, 2015

Years ago when I lived in a house and planted a garden only to find out the truth about those dang little yellow flowers

When I realized they came from tiny 'bulbs', some that went about 3 feet down, I knew I wouldn't win unless I got rid of every last bulb I could. And I didn't want to use poison. I made two sifting screens, one 1/4 inch mesh and one 1/8 inch mesh and so I dug up that whole place and sifted the heck out of it. I missed a few of the rascals but I had a garden where there once was a mass of oxalis. Good luck.

ChiliPeppa · September 4, 2015

oops I just realized how old this thread is..

August 19, 2014	#1
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	oxalis So the weedy yard has tons of oxalis bulbs. We've been sheet-mulching -- which, in other gardens, has gone a long ways toward getting rid of bermuda grass and bindweed. But oxalis...all those little bulbs... If you've successfully grown a garden despite oxalis, what worked? We're putting a new raised bed in part of the yard and filling it with imported soil etc., but I know the oxalis will be lurking a foot below the surface. Would it be worthwhile to try to dig them up before adding the raised bed?

August 20, 2014	#2
peppero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: selmer, tn Posts: 2,944	I am sure many people have to deal with it. I use it as compost material. jon

August 20, 2014	#3
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	Maybe eat them? The roots and leaves are edible. I read that oca is an oxalis.

September 4, 2015	#4
ChiliPeppa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Mojave Desert - California Posts: 368	Years ago when I lived in a house and planted a garden only to find out the truth about those dang little yellow flowers When I realized they came from tiny 'bulbs', some that went about 3 feet down, I knew I wouldn't win unless I got rid of every last bulb I could. And I didn't want to use poison. I made two sifting screens, one 1/4 inch mesh and one 1/8 inch mesh and so I dug up that whole place and sifted the heck out of it. I missed a few of the rascals but I had a garden where there once was a mass of oxalis. Good luck.