Don’t beat it, eat it

It’s the plague of gardeners across the country; the bamboo-like weed that rampages across back yards, suppressing other plant growth and defying all attempts at eradication. Such is our horror of Fallopia japonica that sellers of property are now required to state whether it is present, and councils won’t allow it to be included with normal household waste in case it spreads its infection elsewhere. Alys Fowler, however, has come up with a solution. Forget blitzing Japanese knotweed into oblivion – instead we should be eating it into submission. “Japanese knotweed is edible,” declared the former Gardener’s World presenter at this year’s Hay Festival. “In Japan it is a delicacy. It’s very delicious.” According to Ms Fowler, the gardener’s foe tastes like rhubarb. Perfect with a spot of cream this summer.