Hi everyone. I just had to share these photos of my castor bean plants with you. I'm amazed at how well they've done, considering I started them from seed directly in the garden at the beginning of June.
First, Here are some close-up photos of the leaf size. #1 shows a two inch diameter green tomato in my hand for reference. I used this to place in the centre of the leaves for perspective on their size.
Here is my largest castor bean on August 15, with the tomato in the centre of the leaf.
Here's the leaf without the tomato.
Here is my second largest castor bean (Aug. 15 again) with the tomato.
Here's one taken today, October 9. I am standing in front of the largest of the two. The one in the foreground is actually smaller by about 8 - 12 inches - it just looks the same size because of the perspective of the picture.
Last one. Keep in mind that I am 5 foot 3 inches tall. These things are huge! Anyone out there know what kind of a root system they have? LOL Am I gonna need my backhoe to get them out of there this fall?
if I remember correctly, when I grew them a couple of years ago, and they were small compared to yours, the root system seemed surprizingly small. when time, just give it a yank and see what happens.
linda
Wow Ginny. You will need an axe to take those down. What a great plant for that spot. I see train tracks. More progress on that?
I found the new pics of your construction, (on other thread).
That's what I was hoping someone would say Linda :-)
Yes, I was specifically looking for something to make the entrance to my seating area a little more dramatic Brenda. LOL I think I found it!
--Ginny
From seed to monster in such a short time?? Yup, there's something special in that soil....gotta be,lol. That big one looks at least 9ft!! Awesome plants Ms Green Hands ;)
Here's hoping for shallow roots when the time comes,
Erynne :o)
Thanks Erynne :-) I have my fingers crossed!
--Ginny
I know why it grows Nuclear fall out Just like the old sci-fi movies. Good genes ginny.
WOW!!!......So whatcha been feeding them Ginny?
LOL Nuclear fallout? Boy, I hope not Sofer!
Haven't been feeding them at all Pam. As a matter of fact, the second largest one I planted and forgot it was there because it had been removed from my planting plan. So I planted scarlet flax over top of it. Both of the castor beans are in some of my new raised beds with a soil mix of 2 parts topsoil to 1 part peat moss and 1 part manure. I guess they like it, huh?
LOLOL now why would you think that Ginny??? ;)
I've never gotten one to grow to the size of yours but I remember my Mother grew one variety of Castor Bean that had the same sized leaves....it sure didn't attain the height yours did tho.
Call up hollywood and get them to make a movie of the killer Castor beans. Do you have any volcanic ash that fell over your ground in the last few years? That always adds magic to the garden.
Maybe it's actually fairy dust. Yeah, that's it - the fairies came while I wasn't looking and dusted all my gardens (remember the fairy/caffiene discussion last February anyone? http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/575873/ )
Why would a fairy want to take a castor bean plant that is already huge to them and make it bigger? I think that it is special giant dust from a giant in the clouds looking for a Jack to climb up and have for dinner.
Why would a fairy want to take a castor bean plant that is already huge to them and make it bigger?
OK I have never been a fairy. I suppose if I were a fairy I would make a castor bean plant have flowers. I am going to plant some next year to get the foilage. Has anyone ever kept pinching off the growth to get a bushier plant? I want a 3 to 4 ' broad one in a spot in my woodland edge.
Oh, but they do get flowers, albeit very tiny insignificant ones. The bees don't care how small they are though - they adore them!
Wowzers!! You definitely have fairies in your yard!!! Tell them they can come live in my house for the winter. Nice place to sit under...you don't need any palm trees! Cute setup with the train tracks. Who built that?
:) Donna
The Split Rock Canyon Railroad is a joint effort between my DH and me Donna. I'm glad you like it. We were both involved in laying the ties, shovelling soil, and moving rocks around. The track layout design/build was all my hubbie's as was the main "landscape" design, while I was responsible for the selection of plants and planting. Buildings/structures to date have been purchased, but I will be spending some of my winter liesure time building others - including a log cabin.
--Ginny
Very cool! Please post a better picture of Split Rock Canyon Railroad.
:) Donna
Donna, you can see the whole story to date in my diary: http://davesgarden.com/journal/d/t/ginnylynn/4368/ Enjoy!
--Ginny
