Pokeweed in a Vegetable Garden - Ask Extension
Hi,
We just cleared out an area of our backyard that was full of weeds, debris, etc. It included pokeweed plants. Our plan is to grow a vegetable...
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Pokeweed in a Vegetable Garden #890645
Asked December 09, 2024, 1:12 PM EST
Hi,
We just cleared out an area of our backyard that was full of weeds, debris, etc. It included pokeweed plants. Our plan is to grow a vegetable garden where the pokeweed plants once were. Should we be concerned about growing vegetables to eat where these toxic plants once were?
Please let me know.
Thanks,
Rob
Clatsop County Oregon
Expert Response
Due to the high toxic nature of pokeweed you must be very diligent in identifying it and removing it from your garden.
Since it is a perennial there is a chance it will re appear in your vegetable garden if you have not thoroughly removed it from the area you plan to plant. You may want to monitor the newly cleared area for a season before turning it into a vegetable garden to be sure you have cleared it, especially if there will be pets or children in your garden.
Attached is more information on identifying and managing pokeweed.
