Kudzu is a vine native to Japan which
was
introduced to the southeastern
United States in 1876. It was first used
as an ornamental shade plant and later
as an erosion control ground cover. Due
to its' rapid growth, it can quickly
overrun anything in its' path. In 1948
it was estimated that kudzu was growing
on 500,000 acres in the Southeast. By
1948 the acreage in Georgia alone was
480,000. Under ideal conditions, kudzu
can grow 1 foot per day and up to 100
feet in a single growing season
This vine is
believed to cover more than 7
million acres in the South. That 'Kudzu
covers Dixie like the dew' is no idle
statement. Propagating at the rate of a
foot (or more) a day, kudzu is like a
runaway locomotive. I've heard it said
that Southern mothers will keep a close
eye on their children while they sleep
in the summer to keep them from being
choked to death by the night creeper
vine......
It's said that a country family went
on a two
week vacation, and when
they
returned, the country road which had not
been traveled while they were away, was
covered with kudzu and they lost their
way home......
An escaped prisoner fled into a
kudzu patch
and is still
unaccounted for....
It's not uncommon to see entire
trees or
telephone poles completely
covered by kudzu. Abandoned cars, sheds
or even houses can become victims
of this powerful parasite. Spanish Moss
can't even begin to compete. If
the vines were not killed by the frost,
the entire South would become a
single kudzu field.
So, what good is it? The vine is
very popular
for basket weaving.
It is now 'chic' to display handmade
Kudzu art....Kudzu plants produce
large ,wisteria like, purple flowers on
long racemes, and beans in flat,
papery pods covered with a tawny down.
The plant is edible, and can be
used to make jelly from the flowers,
wine, or fried leaves....
The Japanese make a Tofu from the
tubers
of the root.....Cows love
it.
Goats love it.We Hate It..
If you ever want to truly
get even with a foe.....Send him
a packet of Kudzu seed with the written
words: Plant Now, Pay
Later...........Guaranteed
To Grow . Oh My........
Gardening Tips from Down South
How to Grow Kudzu
Choosing a Plot: Kudzu can be grown almost
anywhere, so site selection is not the problem it
is with some other finicky plants like strawberries. Although kudzu will
grow quite well on cement, for best
result you should select an area having
at least some dirt. To avoid possible
lawsuits, it is advisable to plant well
away from your neighbors house,
unless, of course, you don't get along
well with your neighbor anyway.
Preparing the
Soil: Go out and stomp on the
soil for a while just to get its
attention and to prepare it for
kudzu.
Deciding When to
Plant: Kudzu should always
be planted at night. If kudzu is planted
during daylight hours, angry neighbors
might see you and begin throwing rocks
at you.
Selecting the
Proper
Fertilizer: The best fertilizer
I have discovered for kudzu is 40 weight
non detergent motor oil. Kudzu
actually doesn't need anything to help
it grow, but the motor oil helps
to prevent scraping the underside of the
tender leaves when the kudzu starts
its rapid growth. It also cuts down on
the friction and lessens the danger
of fire when the kudzu really starts to
move. Change oil once every thousand
feet or every two weeks which ever comes
first.
Mulching the
Plants: Contrary to what may be
told by the Extension Service, kudzu can
profit from a good mulch. I have
found that a heavy mulch for the young
plants produces a hardier crop.
For best results, as soon as the young
shoots begin to appear, cover kudzu
with concrete blocks. Although this
causes a temporary setback, your kudzu
will accept this mulch as a challenge
and will reward you with redoubled
determination in the long run.
Organic or Chemical
Gardening: Kudzu is ideal
for either the organic gardener or for
those who prefer to use chemicals
to ward off garden pests. Kudzu is
oblivious to both chemicals and pests.
Therefore, you can grow organically and
let the pests get out of the way
of the kudzu as best they can, or you
can spray any commercial poison directly
on your crop. Your decision depends on
how much you enjoy killing bugs.
The kudzu will not mind either
way.
Crop
Rotation: Many gardeners are
understandably
concerned that growing the same crop
year after year will deplete the soil.
If you desire to change from kudzu to
some other plant next year, now is
the time to begin preparations. Right
now, before the growing season has
reached its peak, you should list your
house and lot with a reputable real
estate agent and begin making plans to
move elsewhere. Your chances of
selling will be better now than they
will be later in the year, when it
may be difficult for a prospective buyer
to realize that underneath those
lush green vines stands an adorable
three bedroom house.
Kudzu Recipies
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Thanks to these other Kudzu Links for
making this page possible!!
Amazing Story of Kudzu
What is Kudzu?
Kudzu Kingdom
Kudzu
The Kudzu Collection
Kudzu Festival
How to Grow Kudzu
Growing Kudzu
Kudzu Root
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Last Updated: Saturday, 13-Oct-2001 08:22:27 EDT
