Have a five year old gardener who was looking through a gardening book and when he saw these he "demanded" that we grow this tree, a whole forest of trees! (His words) LOL I tried to explain it was not a tree - we are at a stand still. SOOOOOOOO I thought I would put a call out for seed and we would grow a "forest". Would be willing to pay postage. Thank you to any one who can help me!!!
Desperate for Caster Bean Seed
I have a few I can send you. Send me your address.
You do know they are very toxic?
Caster bean seeds, and leaves to a lesser degree, contain the poisen Ricin, which is highly toxic. Just one has been known to kill a person. Authorities recommend not letting the plant go to seed if you have any children and/or animals that might injest the seeds. You are going to want to make sure that your little gardener takes this seriously and I wouldn't let him handle the seeds at all.
I have young kids too (9, 10 and 13) and they all know that many of the plants that I grow are potentially toxic. They know not to pick the seeds, leaves, flowers, or bulbs without asking me first.
I just wanted to make sure that you are aware... there are many beautiful plants that have toxic seeds including larkspur and four o'clocks.
I can send you half a dozen seedlings ~ not seeds- for postage or trade. They are just getting their seconds sets of leaves and they will grow fast! They are the common ones meaning green leaves ('scuse my latin) but I will have some hot pink blooms w/ purple leaves in a couple of months too. Email me if you are interested.
thanks to all!! Yes I would like the plants, (daisyavenue you have email) and some seeds (rikerbear you have email as well.).
I know about them being toxic and will take care. My Grandson is moving from Maryland to Texas and I have heard that these grow super fast. He will be leaving the Middle of July, and I thought if we could get as many seeds and plant - he would see his "forest" grow and would have a happy memory of his last gardening efforts with his OMA. His mother is not into gardening and all that he has grown to love has come from me. I will truely miss my little helper man. BOO HOO well I won't go down that lane!! LOL thanks to all.
The mix of green and red(purple) seed will go ut in tomorrows mail Happyoma. Good luck and enjoy :-)
RikerBear
Happyoma,
Everytime I try to respond to your email it gets returned : (
What shall I do?
SORRY!!! I have to go into Daves and change to the new email!!! IT is now Happyoma@comcast.net Thanks for letting me know I forgot to change it here!~!!
Thanks to all who sent caster bean seeds. Have received about ten and hope that they all will sprout! And I will have a forest with my G-son! Should we expect that all ten will sprout? Will the birds go after the seedlings?? Being a 1st timer with these I am unsure what to expect!LOL
If you haven't recieved the ones I sent you should shortly....the envelope was returned to me for additional postage :-( so there was a 2 day delay....sorry about that.
You should get at least 50% germination I would think....that is at least what I got off the seeds of which I sent you the balance.
As for birds, hmmmm, don't know.....if birds are normally a problem for you and your seedlings I would put up some netting to keep them out for a couple weeks till the plants are a bit larger. I would be more concerned about cut worms.
I wrap a small 1/2 wide piece of newspaper around the stem of the seedling....keeps the cut worms away and helps strengthen the stem as it grows.
Good luck with your grandson's 'forest' :-)
This message was edited Apr 16, 2004 10:55 AM
After returning from our Easter hols my daughter and I went for a walk in a local 'gorge' and the wild saplings of castor were soooo prolific! Goodness! People buy seeds for this? Hope that you enjoy ours from our little corner of the world!
PS- grabbed tons of lupine beans for scarifying this fall if anyone has interest! All wild!
Rikerbear - your seeds arrives yesterday -- Thankkkkkkkkkkk you! We are excited here. We are going to plant today.
Daisyavenue will let you know when they arrive. What are lupine beans? Will it grow here in Maryland zone 7? I am thinking I would be interested and I will send postage. Thanks
Oh your welcome....enjoy. :-)