I have inherited a wild and overgrown garden from the previous owners who happily planted a number of fantastic edible plants amongst the maples and jacarandas and climbing roses.
There’s each of a lemon, orange and lime trees, rhubarb crowns, a strawberry patch, herbs galore including a clump of lemon grass and even an olive tree. And then, in amongst the honeysuckle that clambers over a fence, I found something I’m sure was not deliberately planted - sturdy blackberry canes complete with abundant, beautiful fruit, enough for a couple of tasty desserts.
I am torn.
Having grown up with these beauties in a country where they are not declared a noxious weed, my allegiance is a straight forward culinary one. They taste fantastic, and when paired with apples, they become one of the truly great food partnerships.
Blackberries, brought here by homesick Poms, are now regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia, because of its invasiveness, potential for spread and environmental impacts. The facts are compelling. One berry can be covered by as many as eighty seeds, which are then easily spread by birds, foxes, water and even bushwalkers. Blackberries are hardy to the point of being persistent. Currently, according to the Weeds Committee of Australia, nearly nine million hectares of Australian land are infested. Removal is difficult because each blackberry cane throws up ‘daughter’ plants as soon as it is cut down. At peak growing season, stems can grow an incredible 80 mm per day.
So, back to my conundrum. Removal is the most responsible option. Despite the fact it is a declared noxious weed in every state and territory, it is not actually illegal to grow blackberries on private property, but much care should be taken to control their rampant spreading habits. With a heavy heart I have sprayed with herbicides and will, this weekend, tear up the root system (including that of the beautiful honeysuckle it is entangled with) by using a mattock.
And then, provided my back is not too sore from all the hard work, I shall make a free-form blackberry and apple tart, or a delicious crumble from the fruit I have harvested and sit back and ponder how something so beautiful can be so, so bad.
Further information: http://www.weeds.org.au