Hello All.
I'm looking forward to another summer in awe of how big Castor Beans can get in a few short months. Last year they reached 17 1/2 feet tall here - in Minnesota! I'm hoping for 18 this year.
Here they are on July 3rd, happy and healthy. I can almost watch them grow now.
Erick
do you have to plant new ones every year?
capt_insano, yes, in my zone I have to plant new ones from seed every year. I imagine that, in sub-tropical and tropical climates they would grow year-round, but I don't know that for a fact. They are easy to sprout from seed.
Erick
I remember yours from last year, Erick. Wow! I started one from seed and it's been outside since about the end of March so it's about 5' now. When the blooms start turning to pods I cut them off and dump them as a safety factor -- don't ya' think I should? I'm thinking about throwing a couple of the seeds in the ground in my back corner and see how they do rather than starting the seeds inside. What do you think?
That's a good memory you have there BDunn! If yours is 5' already, one can only imagine how tall it will be by fall! While I respect the viewpoint that it's best to remove the seed pods, I don't. I just rely on the public not to graze in my gardens. Anyways, the green castor beans, in my experience, tend to bloom way above the reach of any human. I would imagine that any seeds you plant outside would do just fine. I've found that the plants even do well in shade - they just don't grow as fast or get nearly as big.
Erick
Here are a couple of mine. Started them around the first of March and then planted outside around the 1st of May. I think they are close to 6 ft. now.
i love these and really want to try some, but i don't know much about them(other than they are poisonous). are there two different varieties or am i seeing the same plant in different light? i see some where all the leaves are green and others that have a lot of red/purple foliage.
I have one of each planted. The green and the red. I think I read somewhere that the green ones grows taller then the red. But I could be all wet. Yes they are poisonous, we have had moles in the past and since I have been planting Castor Beans I haven't seen any sign of moles.
are the moles dying from eating them or does it just deter them? wonder if that would work for rats. i would get a castor even if it were the ugliest weed in the yard just to keep them from eating/digging up my plants.
The moles I think eat the roots or some of the plant and kills them. Not for sure what it will do about rats. I do have a bunch of cats I can load up and send your way for the mice and rat problem.
Here is a picture of the red Castor beans Leaf.
Here is a picture of the green Castor bean leaf.
i love them. that red one is beautiful! do they die down in the winter and come back every year?
thanks for the cat offer, but it just wouldn't work here...too many dogs! i just purchased the rat zapper....maybe i could put some castor roots in there just in case. :o)
Yes they die back in my zone. Or should I say they freeze out. But I save a bunch of the seeds, for the next year. If you want any let me know and I can save some for you as well. Each flower that they produce has about 20 to 30 seeds each and they put on a lot of flowers. And I think I have about 20 planted this year. So having seeds to give away is no problem. I have also promised my mailman that I would save him some. Like I said earlier I don't know if the rats will even eat these. Only thing I have heard about is the moles.
20! that must be really pretty. you must also have a very big garden. i would love some seeds if you have extra. i'm more interested in the plant for landscape reasons and not extermination anyway.
hey 2pug, i have a nice spot to try these. think you could share some seeds with me as well? if so...i will mail you an sasbe. thanks in advance - jon
Lets wait until around the end of Oct. or Nov. and I will have a bunch of them. My plants need to die first, or freeze.
I will look in the house I may still have some seeds from last year if I do I will get back with who ever wants them around the first of Aug. This Thurs. I am leaving for Houston for a short stay.
Erick, where are you? What's the latest? My one red is about 7 1/2'. I keep cutting off the pods (I'm a scardey cat). I decided to throw 2 seeds in the ground with nothing about 2 weeks ago. Well.....they popped up so we'll see what happens.
Last year which was the first year for me growing Castor Beans I just sowed the seeds in the ground, didn't take them long to come up at all.
This picture was taken 6/1/2005
This picture was taken 8/20/2005 and the plants were over 10 ft tall.
that's amazing!
2pugdogs, I have the red ones but only my stalks are red. How did you get your leaves red too? Would it be possible to beg a few seeds from you? I'd be glad to trade some of my red stalk ones. They are pretty w/the bold green leaves, but I wanted the red leaves, too.
hilary
Just a tip: It's a good idea to stake your castor beans when they are just a few feet tall. I use 5-foot bamboo poles. If they're staked, they're more likely to survive a powerful summer storm.
Hello All.
I thought I would share an updated pic from the first post. These are my castor beans, both green and red, twenty (20) days later. They are pushing 6+ feet and are growing VERY rapidly. I am confident that they will hit at least 15 ft before our first frost.
Erick
Okay, this time WITH the picture. Sorry about that.
Erick
The red castor beans, while not getting nearly as tall as the green, are known for their interesting and colorful seed pods. The "spines" are actually soft and pliable.
here's a leaf of my castor bean with my nieces to show how big the leaves got!!!
Here's a pic,couple days ago,big green leaf and a red on the other side you can just see the top of it,both approaching 9 to 10 ft already.
Erick,be prepared for some local competition next year,I just sent some seeds back with my son today,he lives in Lakeville,Mn.
I remember the Castor Bean challenge thread from last year - but mine were so pathetic that I could never have posted any photos!
I am growing both the green & red this year in my veggie garden, to (hopefully) deter the rodents from munching on my Asparagus roots. In the rich composted garden, they are the tallest ones I have ever grown!
My question is this: Will the two colors cross, & produce a somewhere-in-between color seeds?
A couple already have seeds - I am hoping that they will stay true, if I keep the seeds spearated by plant color. Anyone know if this will work?
Thanks -
Julie
Here is a shot of both color leaves. I am really enjoying them this year-
And hoping the rodents will stay far away - for a long time to come!
I have the red leafed one that I planted in a 5 gal. pot and just set on the edge of a garden bed next to the patio. It over wintered 2 years now, mostly because the roots have grown thru the pot and I couldn't easily remove it. We have mild winters.
I would love to trade seeds of a solid purpley-red one I got from Kyle (Eclipse) last year for a few seeds of the large green leafed one from anybody.
This is Kyle's image from Aug. 2004 that drew me to this caster.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/fp.php?pid=992897
This message was edited Aug 6, 2006 10:56 PM
Calif_Sue I have these growing, I will send you some seeds in the fall, for sase.
great, I'll keep watch on this thread and Dmail you later or let me know when you have these ready. They do have to be sent in a bubble envelope so they get hand stamped or the seeds get crushed. If you like to try the red ones, we can do a trade.
Just d-mail me around Nov. then I will get you some ready. I will send them in a bubble envelope so they won't get crushed. Then after you receive them you can reinburst me for the postage.
Kyle's garden photo is awesome - he obviously has a strong creative talent with plants. I could see that photo in a magazine - very striking colors & textures.
Castor beans have grown a couple more feet since last photo,hows yours?
I have seeds available for swaps
Ricinus communis zanzibarensis - large green leaf
Ricinus crimson spire - Purple new leaves red stems
Ricinus Impala - As above but redder
Ricinus carmencita - Very red but not as fast growing
I live in England Uk but looking for tropical large leafed plants.
Let me know
Mike
Picture of zanibarensis
Tropicman - I think those may qualify as Castor TREES.
Amazing 4 inch diameter trunks already!!!
Hard to believe something can grow like that since mid april,excluding jack in the beanstalk seeds!!!LOL
So far the Castors appear to be repelling the rodent populations, but the neighborhood bunny joined me in the fenced in garden for a snack last night... But my Asparagus is growing well, without the voles devouring the roots. I really think it works - plus they attract pollinators with the blossoms, & they have a stunning tropical look to them as well!
I too have a funny bunny,all he ever eats is the fallen flowers from the trumphet vine,I just wished he ate them all!!!!
I'm surprised how tame they have become,I can walk right passed him,and he never stops chewing,or even bothers to look at me!!
