I was looking at my Castor Bean Plants this morning and about half of them have these on them. This is my first year growing them, and not for sure if this is what I am looking at. I do remember reading somewhere that you have to keep the buds pinched off if you want them to grow tall. And since Rootdoctor has this contest going to see who can grow the tallest ones, I sure want to be in the running. Please let me know if it is so I can go out and pinch it off.
Linda
Linda, yes those are flowers, if you aren't going to save seeds, snap it off and the plants will continue to grow upwards.
I want to save seeds, but I want the plants to get as tall as it can. I have seen pictures where the plants tower over a house, and they have flowers on them, so does this mean they will bloom later?
Sure snap it off,they'll be plenty more!
Then about august you can let the flowers grow,then in October you'll have plenty seeds.
So far no flowers on mine,not to tall either,but the leaves are nice looking.
Is this where the contest is at? I just snapped this shot. That wooden piece of yard art (the 4 foot ladder) was placed there so my little 9 yo gardening friend could climb up and collect seeds. Now it's there to hold up the tree.
We have had a lot of rain in 2 weeks, with some strong winds. The tree is planted in a 5 gallon pot, sunk into the ground. I rent here and wasn't sure I wanted the tree permanently in the ground, so it doesn't have a good anchor of roots in the ground to hold her up in winds. Last night we pulled several clusters of seeds off for cleaning, after they dry a little more (rains you know)
And if we are contesting for the smallest, do you think this would qualify?
Although I have made every effort to get those seed clusters down before they got away, I think I missed one. Isn't THIS exciting! Since the big tree was sent to me when it was little, from Badseed in Ohio, this will be my first seedling.
:^)))
Molly
Tropicman can you tell me about how far apart do you have your plants? Inquiring minds want to know.
Thanks Linda
Oh Molly, that is the sweetest little seed. Amazing that it has the ability to grow into such a HUGE plant! I missed many seeds last year I see, I have so many little babies popping up all around. DH really doesn't like this plant, especially after it took him forever to dig the dead plant out of the ground this spring. He would love to pull them all out. LOL
Are they as bad as sunflowers, I still have them coming up from last summer. My DH said cutting them down was like chopping down a small tree.
I planted some seeds and they didn't come up =(
ely
Linda,there about 4 to 5 ft apart,I think one will have to go,but which one!!!!
Been watching to see which one looks the best!
But I have the pink variety too,love the seeds hot pink in color!
Then that tells me a bunch of mine are going to have to go. I think they are about a foot a part. Like I have said this is my first year and I am learning a lot. But they are so pretty.
Thanks a bunch Tropicman. It will be about 3 to 4 days before I can get into my garden. How have you done with all this weather we have been having. I was surprised that all my EE's have made it without little damage. We noticed one of them turned itself facing the north so when the wind came out of the southwest it went right around it. That was the biggest leaf I had.
Just said on the weather that we had 6.84 inches of rain,soaked up pretty fast since the sun came out today.Things looked like they grew half a foot today when I got home from work.No wonder things grow like mad up in the pacific northwest with all the rain and cool temps.
