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Florida Gardening

Castor Bean ( Ricinus communis )

16 years ago

I have just put 17 Castor bean seeds in the incubator. I heard that they kill moles. I was wandering if this was true. Does anyone have any input on this? Thank you very much!

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Comments (12)

fawnridge (Ricky)
16 years ago
letsplant - I don't know if they kill moles, but Ricinus beans contain Ricin, a poison strong enough to kill a human. Homeland Security takes a special interest in those who experiment with Castor Beans.
anitaathome
16 years ago
I have castor bean plants in my yard and also moles. So if they kill them maybe it is when eaten but they sure don't seem to deter them.

The castor beans are pretty but be careful as they self sow prolificly.

And Ricky is right - the seeds are very poisonos so do not plant if you have small kids or dumb dogs!
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We love our castor beans. My DH and I have planted the "poison garden" for several years in a row. I don't have a photo handy so here's a description. At the side of our red barn there is a strip of poor soil (about 2.5 feet by 12 feet). There are at least 5 huge castor beans (green - at least 7 feet tall, leaves like umbrellas) in the strip - grown from last year's seed. With shorter white flowered datura in front, interplanted with tithonia (orange flower) and a very tall maroon red amaranth. Climbing up the castors is hyacinth bean. (Wish I had planted the hyacinth beans earlier so they would be more robust by now and make a better show.) These are not in any secluded sopt, but no one has tried eating it and we've had no casualties! Good luck Maryanne in WMass
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Thanks, Diane, I'm going to at least try a couple of these, since I don't like all the chemical sprays and various insecticide/fungicide/pesticide/othercide. I remember Grandma always planted marigolds around the perimeter of the garden, she said it would keep rabbits out. I don't remember if it worked, because Mother sprinkled the cabbage leaves with red pepper to keep the rabbits from eating them. I guess I should have tried both and I wouldn't have had to buy cabbage from the local Amish farms to make sauerkraut, since rabbits ate all my cabbage, including the dozen head of red cabbage I planted for Peppi. (sigh) I always plant a row of flowers in the garden to attract and keep my pollinators. Last year it was cosmos, sunflowers, zinnia and asters. I should probably pay closer attention to what I plant, I just plant something that blooms, LOL, but pollinators might like others better. Like sleevendog, I have years where I get a lot of beans but no potatoes. Some years I get buckets of cucumbers but no turnips. I celebrate the things that did well and figure maybe I'll get the others next year. It doesn't stop me from at least trying to keep the pests out of the garden, though. I have found that the only thing that really repels deer is about 9,000 volts running through a couple of strands of electric fence. The first year I smeared a little peanut butter on the wire, when they sniffed they got one heckuva poke. After that, they stayed away. Instead they went and ate my 3 newly planted pear tree seedlings. (sigh) I hate 'em. I'm learning to feel the same way about the geese that ate the blueberries as fast as they ripened. Annie
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jaxfl_dude
16 years ago
I've got 4 different types of Castor Beans in a 72 count seed tray. Do you really think Homeland Security is looking into my little experiment? Site your source...
florah
16 years ago
Interesting comment. As long as it is legal to grow Castor Bean, Homeland Security should have better things to do.
fawnridge (Ricky)
16 years ago
There are people from Homeland Security reading this forum right now. FBI, CIA, NSA, and even ABC Liquors. Be wary of those eyes you can't see looking at you...
florah
16 years ago
You are not Carl Hiassen, are you? ;-)
gardencpa
16 years ago
You forgot the IRS.
scottrell
16 years ago
I put castor oil in my mole holes that gets rid of em' I don't know if it kills them or they just don't like it. I just planted some seeds in my yard. It would be nice if they kept the moles away, but am looking forward to the plants. Whats an incubator?
fawnridge (Ricky)
16 years ago
florah - only in my fantasies.
jupiterplants
16 years ago
I don`t like them.

First of all , you use to see them growing on every canal bank in south florida. Along with
the melaleuca and the brazilin pepper.

Then our parents warned us how poisonous they were, We were never to touch the plant and rub our eyes, nose or mouth.

But when we got sick......what did mom do ?

She gave us a dose of castor oil.

VERY CONFUSING FOR A CHILD , I MUST SAY !

To me , it is just a weed.
D`Ann
letsplant1
Original Author
16 years ago
I had no idea that castor beans were of interest by homeland security. I just hope they take care of the moles. Scotrell, my incubator is a big tupper ware bin with christmas lights linning the bottom of it. I put the tins you get from chineese food inside the bin on top of the lights. Then close. The lights maintain a constant temp. I use the jiffy refill peat pellets inside of the metal tins. This is where I germinate my seeds.

Here is a link that might be useful: Click Here To Witness The Transformation
jupiterplants
16 years ago
Letsplant,

Contrats on the new little sprout...its a keeper !
Looks like you have a good size yard.

Think about getting some slow growing plants in your yard.
Your young enough to see them reach maturity.

I never lived in a place with moles.
Armadillos', but not moles.

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