The Castor Bean Compost Grew

19 years ago

I just wanted to show you all my Monster Castor bean! I planted the 2 inch seedling by the compost in May.. Now look at it!

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Comments (10)

didzgarden
Original Author
19 years ago
OK... That didn't work... Let me try again
MK

Here is a link that might be useful: Castor bean???
Brent_In_NoVA
19 years ago
Beautiful! The plant is not too bad either. ;-)

- Brent
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Very nice!! Karen, yours looks like the type I usually grow 'Carmencita'. Are the newest emerged leaves burgundy in color like the stems? The flowers are a carmen pink in color and lots of seed pods are produced. I like this one too for for the nice colored new leaves followed by the tint like seen in your picture :) Always remember to be extra cautious of this one; extremely toxic. Vera
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Hi, I am new to the GardenWeb site. I noticed you'd posted a listing for castor beans that grow over 10'. I am very interested if you have more. I am a new gardner and have a limited arsenal at this time. However, I do have sunflower (smaller bush variety), calla lilies, and canna tubers. Please let me know either way. Very interested. Thank you, Newergardener
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I would not for the reason that I grew this plant last year and was frantically calling the vet come the spring. The plant was grown on our deck in a container. Due to the wet cool summer we had, I did not think the plant had gone to seed. It had and the seeds had fallen on the floor of the deck. Just two seeds as far as we know. We have an aging Valley Bulldog (Chewie) who decided to eat the seeds - he is blind and nearly deaf. After using the treatment the vet prescribed and watching him closely for 48 hours, we were assured all was well. In aging, Chewie has changed and is not as sharp as he used to be. The Castor Bean plants are off limits for me to grow. Not a problem as there are many other alternatives. I am usually an advocate of "grow what you want and compost all that is compostable", but my views have slightly changed since this experience. My Black Lab often checks out the compost heaps too so throwing one of those plants in there would be taking a risk.
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swanz
19 years ago
So that's what that plant is called, seen them around but
didn't know the name.

Swanz
Jen26
19 years ago
That looks surreal! Great pic.
kathy756
19 years ago
That's neat! Congratulations on your plant and your compost and chalking up a point with DH. I hope he'll be a compost promoter now, too.
Harimad
19 years ago
Good heavens! That's quite a plant you have there. You get to be smug one month per foot of growth. And to remind DH that "I was right about the castor plant, I'm right about ..." whenever you want.

Harimad
grittymitts
19 years ago
Wow! The ones I plant don't even grow like that!

Suzi
gardenymph
19 years ago
Is this the plant that castor oil comes from?
ottumwa
19 years ago
those would be pretty cool to do a leaf casting with concrete.....never done it...but it sure looks like it would work!!!
Monte_ND_Z3
19 years ago
Ditto Brent. That is fine looking, and the castor bean plant isn't half bad either.

gardenymph,

Is this the plant that castor oil comes from?

That would be a "yes". However, I wouldn't recommend extracting the oil for any uses. See next paragraph.

It is also the same plant that produces "ricin", considered by many to be one of the most deadly naturally occurring poison known to man. Used by the KGB for clandestined assasinations.

Fortunately, poisonings from the plant itself is very rare. The oil and the poison are both contained in the seed and generally require ingestion of several beans or artificial concentration to be lethal. The downside is that there is no antidote, so non-lethal doses still have to run their course.

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The Castor Bean Compost Grew

Comments (10)

didzgarden
Original Author

Brent_In_NoVA

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The Castor Bean Compost Grew

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didzgardenOriginal Author

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didzgarden
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