Bindweed competition!

[JeremyinCzechRep]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has a garden full of bindweed (at least, those parts not swamped with ground elder). I was on the pull last weekend (pulling up bindweed) and tried various techniques to get as much bindweed root out as possible. It turned out to be very satisfying as it was a challenge to remove as much as possible. I propose a competition for other bindweed sufferers. Who can pull out the longest bindweed root? Take a photograph of your root against a ruler (or tape measure!) and post it here. Looking forward to seeing your entires - I'm off to see what I can find.

[Rosendula]

If only you'd suggested this last week! I had loads growing at the end of my plot in what used to be the previous tenant's compost heap. As you can imagine, the soil there is really loose and the roots easy to pull out. I got some HUGE ones. But you've waited, haven't you, for me to move on to the as-yet uncultivated part of the actual plot, where the ground is rock hard clay and the roots, if they come out at all, come in 1cm bits.

OK! Count me in!

[lazyspice]

We've got clay with lots of stones and rubble so every bit of bindweed root is a challenge! I think the longest bit I've managed to pull up was only a couple of inches

[Muscroj]

I haven't got any!! (not due to my outstanding efforts, but those of the elderly gentleman & lifelong gardener who kindly sold us his house (well his son did )

[Millymollymandy]

I haven't got any!! (not due to my outstanding efforts, but those of the elderly gentleman & lifelong gardener who kindly sold us his house (well his son did )

Yeah but you've got slugs, so stop bragging!

[Muscroj]

not just any old slugs either, ones that apparently eat peas & beans!

[JeremyinCzechRep]

Weeding my peas this evening I noticed a smallish piece of bindweed (about 8cm). I held it near the base and pulled gently - and pulled and pulled... I didn't want it to be 'one that got away' so I got a trowel and dug carefully. The final root was 53cm long! I took a quick picture next to a ruler but will stretch it out tomorrow and photograph it next to a tape measure. Can anyone beat 53cm?