Wow!what a healthy looking plant!!!So nice to see you!great picture,looks like you may have a possible leader there!
Castor Bean contest?
Thanks Rootdoc, It's actually 3 castor beans - - one really big one and two medium. But together, they have a nice shape. They are planted in the spot that used to be our area to burn brush and leaves. I suspect all that ash has enriched that old hard clay into something pretty good.
I also have 2 brugs in back of the castors and they are doing great also.
When I took this picture, I laughted out loud - - - as I look like one of those paper people next to my castor beans. But this is really me, promise...LOL
DH said he was going to trim some branches off the maple tree to keep the castors from growing into the tree.
Now, where is my miracle grow????? Nat
ROFL!!!!Paperpeople!!!I think it a great picture!!!!
nat, that is a beautiful plant.....and I agree, you look like a paper person! How funny.
Mine is a mere child compared to some of those humongous Castor Bean Plants!
Don't laugh!
Not Laughing, that is the kind I have, do you know the name?
Thanks weeds, at least I'm in good company! I'm not sure of the name because jody had given it to me in a trade. I will check with her and let you know.
Rooty Toot Special as of this morning......stretching to 7 Ft!!
"eyes"
another angle....
"eyes"
LOL.............they almost look like I'm growing something else........am I hallucinating????
"eyes"
LOL! Eyes looking good!!!
O.K. guys you got me hooked I love these plants. I need to get my hands on some Seeds, but will they be o.k. in the southwest?
a_leon51, I still have some seed but I am not sure of the name of them.
Busybee, are they tall or 6ft. variety? Do you know if they will take the summer heat?
Leon, if'n they'll take my 105F.........they'll work where you are!! BYW........where in 9B are you?
"eyes"
Yes they sure will. I think they like the heat.They are tall.
busybee-I would love to get some seeds from you. Not much to trade but I'll e-mail and set something up.
mine is still quite small for this year. The one in the picture was 2 years ago......it had been planted in late July and it was 12 foot tall in September when I decided to chop it down. It had produced over 3000 seeds.......I did get the 0's right on that one............lol. That's actually how I started gardening. I traded most of all of those 3000 seeds for other stuff and began to grow flowers :o)
Thats one healthy Monster there!I sure have enjoyed seeing everyones castors!!This has been a fun thread!
What I want to know is what do the flowers look like or are you all growing them for their size? Not to sound too dumb, but do you have to remove them every year? They would take up my green garbage allotment for 2 weeks!
I just cut my flowers off or I would post a pic for you kell maybe next time it blooms
Kell, the flowers don't look like much and are small compared to the plant. They are annuals here. I don't know how long they would live for you. Sounds like you need to start a compost pile. You could get rid of lots of green garbage and then re-use it.
Kell: This is my purple castor bean just starting to bloom. The blooms are insignificent. We grow them for the tropical look they give our garden. Some people grow them to deter moles, rabbits, etc. Which I do think they do deter. The Purple is by far my favorite.
Here is one Kell.
This is my big one so far,I'm 6ft.
Thanks Irish for the thought. So do you cut the flowers off to prolong the growth period?
LOL Root! You must be a constant source of amusement for your neighbors!
I just love the red one Debby, and the red veined one that Root has is neat also.
I even bought a black compost bin Brugie a few years ago, then the directions said I needed to layer it with hay, so I have been looking for hay for 4 years.
Kell,I'm a bad influence,will take a couple pics later today.Sammy on one side of me,I have him hopelessly hooked on Palms,he has his first buds on a Brug,and has EEs,across the road Vince is into Dats,castors cannas and EEs,LOL!!!
Your block will be the talk of the neighborhood!
July 21st posted my castors
Here they are 9 days later ~ 7'8" on the tallest.
That is an average of 3 inches of growth per day. If we continue to have a hot humid August, I figure they should reach 15 feet by August 31st. At that rate, they'll never catch Root but we will sure enjoy them! Amazing how this is one of the only things I planted years ago that would grow from seed so easy. And more amazing at the number of Iowans that come to my yard and inquire, " What is that?!".
Too funny!
Kell, you don't need hay. Some grass clipping, a little soil, kitchen scraps, no bones or milk products, and some granular fertilizer to make it heat up will get it going. Small twigs, leaves from your plants, etc. Just layer it with twigs on the bottom so air can circulate. Put everything in layers, brown and green. Turn it every so often and make sure it doesn't dry out, but don't keep it soaking wet. It should make some compost for you. I'm sure someone can tell you a better way to do it. I'm not making compost this year. Good thing. It has been too dry and I'd never be able to keep up with it.
Just saw this morning on HGTV
Lasagna Composting:
1st layer: grass clippings
2nd layer: leaves
3rd layer: Mushroom Compost (available at Home Depot)
4th layer: Kitchen scraps (banana peel, veggies, egg shells, coffee grounds)
5th layer: All Purpose granular fertilizer
6th layer: garden soil
7th layer: bark mulch
8th layer: cayenne pepper (to keep varmits from digging for food)
Leave 3 months or over winter; you can repeat this layering process as many times as you wish.
Brugie, do you think this would work for those of us who do not have composters?
It will work if you have the time for it to sit.
Do you think it would break down over an Iowa Fall, Winter, Spring if we had enough precipitation? Seems like water would help.
Let's just say that it is supposed to. IowaGal has done this some, she could probably tell you more about it.
I have nothing brown or any grass clippings. Tons of green plant clippings and weeds. Will that work with fertilizer and dirt layered in? Oh I have kitchen food. but won't that attact flies and smell?
Kell,
The grass clippings add the "heat"; I think it has to be something "green"; above said no dairy or meat; but all veggies and I suppose fruit; these things are down deep enough with all layered on top I don't think so. Doesn't bark mulch detract insects?
Kell, what is your zone?
9B TLC
Oh, kell,
you are way above me!
ok Ill just beg from forum to forum tonight....the purple colored castor beans--who will have pity on my next years garden and send me a few---Ill trade my mom's only cow and with it our only hope of survival?
Yes TLC, most people think that.
LOL