Castor Bean contest?

Oh no, now the competition is picking up. I measured mine about three nights ago and they came in at 13 ft. 9 in. BTW, it's pretty difficult to measure them when they get taller than 12 ft! Nat

For the EE cast, couldn't you use the back of the leaf to get more detail?

Ecobioangie- yes, you would use the back. The EE just doesn't have very much detail in the the leaf. It has the large veins, but not the smaller ones. Don't get me wrong, it does work and looks nice. I just like more detail.

I am thinking about pulling the flagpole down and putting some measurement marks on it.it is hard to get a tape to stand that tall,I am trying to figure out how I am going to pull these seed pods off.
It is raining here,YEAH!!!!!I love being out barefoot in the grass,so sorry this picture is so dark.

Looks good there! A tropical paradise in the middle of the U.S.

Loving that picture Root!

Hi Root, I just remeasured my castor bean plant. I had to straighten it up because it is leaning to get out from under the tree limbs.I then measure the castor bean when it was straight, its total height is around 15 3/4 feet tall. How I measure it was with a 16 1/2 foot piece of conduit marked every foot with a black mark and a red mark every half foot. I held it up next to it, while my mother looked to see where it reached on the conduit.

Heck Clayton, I was gonna measure mine but I don't think I should even bother.....but I will anyway. What you feeding that thing?

Hi Weeds, I haven't feed it at all. All I did was watering it now and then. This was the first year have have ever grown a castor bean and wasn't for sure how to take care of it. Plus I didn't have alot of time for gardening this year because I was helping my mother take care of her husband my step father that passed away with cancer this month.

Rain is letting up here,looks like we will have to do some staking.

Here is Vince's

My Driveway go it hard.

Wow, look at those big, healthy plants!

Hi everyone,

I'm a newbie to DG, as of yesterday (registered with PlantsDatabase a few months back)!! We've had rain here for 3 days so I have had plenty of time to read 'every' thread on here. I keep coming back to this one and have some questions.

We've been gardening for about 7 years or so and have really gotten interested in anything tropical looking in the past few years. We have many flowers, EE's, Daturas and Brugs (just starting with cuttings), along with a banana and a white BOP. I've been wondering about Castor Beans for awhile now and would like some information about the varieties available. I'm sure there are dwarfs too. I'm really interested in the red or purple ones. We are in OKC in z7, will any of them be hardy here? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Something else....I just recieved some Castor Beans in a couple of seed trades. Is there anyway to tell what 'kind' they are without planting them? Do different varieties have different colored beans? (Is that a stupid question?)

Thanks for the help & info in advance....Brinda :)

Welcome Brinda!!Hang around us and you will end up with tons of stuff!
Yes castor seeds do look different,not much!I noticed the Thai.were small dark,Zins are large light brown,Comminus are darker brown and smaller in size.it is hard to look at a seed and tell what it is,for me anyway.
Got you confussed?I am,and I typed it,LOL!

Cleaning out the drive,sure hated losing this one.

Seeds do not look mature yet,guess my harvest will be smaller then I wanted.

Very white,but firm.

Root: So sorry for your loss. I was hoping that you could save them. My harvast will be smaller because of our drought. I have harvasted a few of the tall purples. This has not been a very good growing season. Can always hope next year is bigger and better. That's what keeps us gardeners going.LOL.

I can save a few plants,this big one snapped low,did you get a good rain?

We got about 5/8 of an inch of rain. Not nearly enough. But it was great to get that. Today was a lovely sunny day, temps are much milder. Hope you can dry up abit before anymore rain. I am watching my yellow and purple datura seedpods and the castorbean pods to catch every seed I can. Have you noticed the coloring of the Impala seedpods. I just noticed them tonight. Very pretty. Should go take a pic. They did grow taller than what the package said. I have some Impala's 7 ft. tall. I think they were only to be 5 ft. tall at the most. My red spire from Kyle is about 7 ft. tall, too. They must like where they are growing.

I just looked,no pods on Impala.:0(

Root: I planted three Impala's. Will have plenty of seed if all goes well. They all have good size seed heads. Here is one of the seed heads.

Nice one Debby,put me down for one or two of those seeds,Thx!

Hi Debby, I would like some seeds too, if you have enough after you are able to harvest them

Hi again everyone....

Debby posted a pic of "the most purple one"...what kind is that? They are beautiful. How tall do they get? And is there any kind that will be hardy in OKC z7? Or should I plan to put it in a pot and overwinter it? Or just let it die and plant more the next year?

And yes, Root...you did confuse me. LOL I've got alot of learning to do. Plantdatabase only shows 2 different castor beans. Oh well...google, right?

Brinda :)

This message was edited Thursday, Sep 4th 2:50 AM

I have been watching this thread with envy since it started. My castor bean is by no means a contender but I had to post a pic. It is probably about 7 feet now. I'll post again once it grows some more.

OOPS!!! Wrong pic. See below.

This message was edited Tuesday, Sep 2nd 7:24 PM

Here's my castor bean

Wow,Does that go great with Papaya,Nice touch,shoot after my storm you may have me whooped.

I do have a baby showing some potential,after I gave away as many seeds as I could,I broadcast the rest,this little guy is coming on,only 2 mos old.

It shows good leaf size.

Studley: Very nice Red Castor you have growing there. They don't get too tall. It looks like it is as tall as they get. They are lovely though.
Root: Georgeous photo as usual. Will have to try nana's with them next year. We get so much wind here on top of this hill, don't know if nana could stand up to it.

Brinda: I don't know the name of the Purple. Last year they got really tall, like 10 ft. I received the seed in a trade and the lady said they were dwarf castor beans that would grow to be about 2 ft. tall. I was very surprised when they reached 10 ft. plus. This year they are about 8 ft. tall because of our drought.

Everyone that wants seeds I will post when they are ready.
Should be within the next month when they mature.

A Mandavilla from Cala decided to bloom.You have to look hard,it's hiding behind the Castor

rootdoctor said I should post my photo here as well as in the forum I orginally posted it to.

Even though it is hard to see there are cannas and elephant ear hiding in there along with some totally buried crocosmia and glads

llilyfan

Root, I just love your mandevilla. I think they are such a sweet little vine and the smell is so nice. Very nice pic. OK, tell me what that Castor is? I really like it. And how tall will it normally get?

Debby....Oh, can't wait til you post for seeds. The purple you posted is fabulous.

Hi Root, here is a picture of my castor bean plant. It is not the best looking and hasn't flowered or seed out yet. It is now a little over sixteen feet tall.

Brinda,this is Impala with the Madavilla,I got it from Debby.;0)
Lilyfan,Thanks,I love the color of yours!!!!Glad you share here!
Clayton unless someone else brings one bigger,I think 16 ft is a leader!WoWser!!!!!!!!!

Now that is one honking big plant!

Weeds,Let's Make You,the one Tan legged judge,in this contest!!!Unless you have a 16footer?
(and I think you are holding out some Whoppers)
You the Judge?(Please?)
LOL! Root©ट©¬