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What to do with valerian

CopperdogCopperdog Posts: 617
I have lots of bits of valerian roots hanging around. How do I treat these? Leave them In situ and hope the grow again next year? Will the flower heads self seed? They’ve gone to seed now ….
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  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    They self-seed easily.
    Small fluffy seeds will blow about then settle and germinate.
    They're perennial, so will come back bigger each year. Just chop the above ground bit off at the end of the season
    They are nice, but can be quite invasive.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Cut them back and they will return next year whether you want them or not. They will seed all over the place. I have reds, pinks and whites. I love them, particularly the reds. Many would disagree. They can get some sort of gall mite. Cut the stem below the leaves and bin it.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    They will come again. They will seed into any crack going. Hummingbird hawk moths  love them so I leave mine, but still waiting for the moth.
  • CopperdogCopperdog Posts: 617
    Thanks @Pete.8 should I can I to treat rhizome but or just above it? Do most folks just leave that whole piece over Christmas and but back hard in spring? 
  • CopperdogCopperdog Posts: 617
    Thanks to @b3 and @fidgetbones sorry I missed your posts as I was typing. I love them too 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited July 2023
    Copperdog said:
    Thanks @Pete.8 should I can I to treat rhizome but or just above it? Do most folks just leave that whole piece over Christmas and but back hard in spring?


     When it begins to die back, just cut the dead foliage and stems off - or you can do it in the spring. 
    If you cut back to a few inches, they may reflower a bit in a few weeks
    Once you've got them  - you've got them :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I do it as soon as they set seeds. You will scatter plenty when you cut it.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Keep an eye on it. We put one red one white,it took over the front garden, whipping along sneakily underground,we ended up removing it.
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    I can’t stand them - sludge white or Windolene pink. They smell awful, seed all over the place, wheedle their way into wall mortar joints and are immune to slug attacks. I pull them out on sight.
    Rutland, England
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    The dark ones are lovely and I can't smell anything off them. 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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