Wanted - East Texas Kudzu

[RedRock]

Randy's post regarding Kudzu reminds me...

I've read all the warnings and evils about Kudzu. I do NOT want to plant it. I want to harvest some from East Texas.

I've also read that it can be turned into a great compost so I was wondering if there are any land owners along Interstate 20 East of Dallas or Hwy 80 East of Terrell that would simply let me show up with a brush knife and/or machete and cut some to bag up, chop up and compost? Or does anyone know of areas along these highways where it's safe and legal to pull off the highway and harvest some? My last question would be... if I were to prepare this as compost before it ever came close to my garden, is there any danger of it "getting away"? Like I said, I've read the perils of this invasive plant and want to take every precaution possible. Thanks

 

[smstonypoint]

I'm surprised that you haven't been flooded with responses offering you all of the vines you want.

Regarding composting, I think that you would have to worry about the seeds. They are hardy and long-lived.

Steve

 

[RedRock]

I'm surprised that you haven't been flooded with responses offering you all of the vines you want.

Regarding composting, I think that you would have to worry about the seeds. They are hardy and long-lived.

Steve

Yeah, I may invest in a temperature probe to make sure I'm reaching 160 degrees heat up.

 

[missingstexas]

X2 with what smstonypoint says... I'd be too scared to try to compost it unless you have some type of sterilization/heat process that would no question kill it. I've seen that stuff consume acres of hardwoods here in south louisiana. I think I remember reading that you can actually measure it's growth per day or something like that.

 

[smstonypoint]

Yeah, I may invest in a temperature probe to make sure I'm reaching 160 degrees heat up.

I'm not sure what level of heat would be required to kill the seeds. I would get a definitive answer to that question before trying composting.

Steve

 

[RedRock]

yeah, you know on second thought, this stuff is just too scary... think I'll find an alternative. Plus by the time I buy gas to drive out to East Texas from Dallas, I probably could have bought some alfalfa meal, soybean meal or some other comparable substitute. I understand some wet rabbit food (sold at tractor supply for $14.50 per 50lbs) works pretty well.