mastino- There are about 1200 species of bamboo, and there are several hundred that would grow fine in your Zone. All bamboo have a natural size limit (height/thickness), but they often don't reach that for at least 5 years. Also, if you plant a bamboo, you may not get any aboveground new growth for 1-2 years. The largest group of bamboo that are hardy in your area are the Phyllostachys species, and most of them will produce culms as small as 1/4 inch at first, but getting up to 1"+ over time. Some of the Fargesias, many of which are also quite hardy, will produce culms that don't get quite as big in diameter. Do you live close to any nurseries that carry bamboo?

David, I looked at that Ebay sale of black bamboo and suppose it depends on what you're looking for. When I bought a start of black bamboo, I paid about $70 or so for a two or three gallon plant, delivered, from a reputable vendor. This was an entirely reasonable price. The plant arrived in a timely fashion and in great condition. I have no complaints. In contrast, that Ebay vendor you've found is shipping bare rhizomes for considerably less than I paid, but is this plant certain to survive? No, it isn't. As I understand it, black bamboo isn't particularly easy to propagate by rhizome, certainly not by rhizomes dug this time of year. So, as usual, you're paying much less and taking a much bigger chance. The buyer offers your money back within seven days, but you won't even know whether this thing will survive in such a short time frame. For me, not being a gambler, I'd much rather invest wisely in a sure thing.

We are several hours driving time from any large city. The local Dollar Store only carries the 2ft lengths of green stained stakes. I want the 6 foot lengths. I guess I will have to resort going into the woods on our property and just cut down some young poplar trees, of which there is an abundance. Soil improvement not a problem. We have sandy and slightly loamy soil which just needs compost. It's just that there's an area behind the greenhouse which I'd like to build up to start planting and buying bags of ground isn't feasible for that project, thus the desire to get a couple truckloads of soil delivered. Many years ago before we bought the house, someone dumped some junk dirt full of rocks in piles which were never leveled out and now is populated with spruce and poplar. Behind that is a gentle slope where many years of rocks, tree limbs and leaves were tossed, like a garden garbage heap. It faces north and would make an ideal fern, woodland and shade plant garden. It slopes down about 10 feet and the very bottom would make a good bog garden, then the ground slopes up again. Might be hard to see in the picture.

By all means, if anyone wants bamboo you can come on over and harvest away. I've already had two groups of people this year--friends and family of some help I've hired for building decks and a path. But there is so much more and it's ready to go! There is also lots of bamboo that is dead and dried already--all you have to do is go into the forest and start harvesting it. Seedmama: I'm impressed with your engineering skills in using the bamboo. Just drop me a line when you want to come over and harvest some more. In fact, would you be interested in starting a bamboo fence factory? Maybe bamboo roofing for a pavillion you've always wanted to build? Maybe a bamboo fishing pole factory? You know where to get it! --Robert P.S. Remember that this bamboo isn't just the small stuff. There's plenty of bamboo that's 2 inches to 3 inches in diameter. Some is more like 3 1/2 to 4 inches in diameter, but there isn't much of that yet....just a few specimens are that big.