Hi Guys/Gals - I need some suggestions as to what's growing in one
of my garden containers; it came up automatically this year. There's
about 16 thin stalks, about 12 to 14 inchees tall, with 5 having a small
lavender colored flower-type ball at the top. The balls might mean it's
going to seed. For the life of me, I don't remember/know what I may
have planted last year. No, I don't have Altzheimers, but sure am feeling
stupid not to recognize what this is? Especially since I'm watering it 3
times a week.
Any guesses or suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch!

Is it chives? Are the 'stalks' hollow and they smell oniony when you break one? If it's chives, it doesn't need much water.

I do that all the time--plant things, don't label them and forget. A few weeks ago I was looking at a beautiful Siberian Iris in someone's yard and said, I need to get one of those. Then I went home and there in my garden was a Siberian Iris in bloom. I have no recollection of buying or planting it.

Here's a photo of chives, if this helps

Yep, that's the one! That picture is perfect, kind2! Thanks for the added
info U&I - I'll quit worrying about watering it. Do either of you know if the
lavender flowers are next years seeds, once they're dried out?

Very interesting thread. Kudos to EarlyBird for describing the plant, and kudos to u&iraok and kind2creatures for solving the puzzle and adding a picture.

A weed is a plant found growing in a place where it is not wanted. That is a definition I was taught very early in life. Hmmmm

I plant yams in drums every year. I gather rotted stuff, top soil and the like and fill the drums before planting. Last yaer I noticed several paw paw trees growing in two of the drums. I did not plant them. Since they were not wanted there, I transplanted them elsewhere.

This year I again prepared my drums and planted my yams. Would you believe that paw paw trees began to grow even before my yams sprouted?
Oh Mother Nature!

Cedy, I want your paw paw trees!!!! I wonder how much it would cost to mail them up to the states?! Are you coming to the states for a visit soon? Hmmm oh well, Enjoy them.. How are your yams doing now? I have a friend who also grows her potatoes in a barrel with the rotted stuff and leaves and topsoil... she says its really easy... We are going to try something similar come fall... too hot to plant now! heres the article, we have plenty of scrape wood, so it wont cost me anything. https://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...otatoes25.html

Early bird, we have chives and wild onions growing all over the place in my yard....never have to bother planting, as long as I remember to pick them all in the spring!

I was just wondering that the other day. I usually use the flowers in a salad or something since they're edible but I just looked it up and here's what I found:

• Step 1: Allow your existing chive plants to blossom and watch for when they start to dry out and lose their color
• Step 2: If the chive plants are in a windy location or in a place they can be bumped, put a bag over the the flower heads and tighten the opening with a string or rubber band. This will catch the seeds so don't fall away.
• Step 3: Allow flower heads to completely dry out
• Step 4: Cut the flower heads off of the plants and put them in a bag that has extra room in it for the flowers to bounce around in it.
• Step 5: Shake the bag, dislocating all the tiny black seeds out of the flower heads. The seeds will be about the size of a flea, so look for them carefully.
• Step 6: Store the seeds in a cool and dry location, such as a refrigerator drawer

One other tip: once the plant starts looking raggedy you can cut it down to the ground and the stalks will all grow back again.

Oh, I'm jealous! Paw Paw is Papaya right? I looovvvve Papaya! I had some papaya seeds sprout in my compost pile and I transplanted them just to see what would happen but of course they died with the first frost. Not a weed, no, no, not to me! I've heard that Caribbean Islanders look at papaya as nothing special and that it's mangoes that are considered special. I love mangoes but give me a papaya, please. And so good for you.