A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2004 castor beans = ricin

ok - Phil, Jiffy, and Jillie

(Weezie - I don't recommed this for you with young children because the entire plant is poisonous!)

I just looked over my seeds and...
I have enough to send about 20 seeds of the green castor variety - doesn't get quite as large as the red, and is all green in trunk, leaves and veins, red flowers which turn to very prickly seed pods.

I also have enough for about 10 seeds each of the red castor been variety - gets to at least 6 feet when planted in the ground here, has slightly lighter colored trunk, red stems, HUGE green leaves with red veining, and red flowers which turn to very prickly seed pods.

I can send you both varieties if you like...
just send me a PM with your address

castor bean plant

Lynne,
That plant has been on my wish list for awhile now, and that's right where it's staying until
"them thar rug rats are all growd up"
I won't take any chances with them.....

I do just love the plant,
they say it's the the 3rd or 4th fastest
growing plant!!!
(Two types of bamboo's are faster,
if I remember correctly)

Have you watched it grow???

Weezie

I love growing this plant too....it grows well in our short hot summers. I plant them in the front along the house ... with the "tropicals".

I enjoyed that site...thanks for sharing.

Weezie~ I haven't really watched it grow, because I usually plant it in 12 inch pots on my deck - it doesn't get to its full potential in the pots. I did plant 2 in the ground 2 summers ago and they got huge - too big for the areas they were in and I had to cut them back!

Smart of you not to grow them now. I wouldn't take any chances on those lovies of yours!

Barb ~ glad you liked the site. I always try to post at least a picture of a plant I'm talking about, usually I'll find a link to info about growing them too. I first saw these plants growing out front of a Chinese restaurant here - they had one on each side of the main entry - they were soooooooooo exotic looking I just had to have it, and was lucky enough to get some seeds from an online trade.

While on the subject of castor bean plant...

A while back there were discussion about garden pests (moles, gophers,etc.), castor bean plant was mentioned as a good mole repellant. See below:


http://landscaping.about.com/cs/pests/a/mole_control_4.htm

papito, i remember that thread, vaguely. hmmmm. that would mean maybe it would work for catlover and her gophers??? hey catlover, want some? i bet weezie would let you have her share for right now

Lynne,

Glad to see your biopsy went ok. And Hollywood seems to have come through ok as well. Got to keep you two gardeners up and about...it's so much fun shooting the breeze with y'all!!

I got the biggest smile reading this thread about your possible arrest and confiscation of your Castor plant!!

Barb H.

Okay, Lynne, I PM'd you

How big of an area does it work around the plant???

Sure....I'd like to try some....I live right up the street from the cop shop!

Catlover... PM with your addy if you'd like me to send you some!

Sent....thank you very much!!!
Catlover

seeds were mailed out today.
If you don't find me here, look for me in
Sing-Sing... it's just over the bridge here!

You'll be the one in ORANGE, right?

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT...

me and how many others?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

You'll be the one waving!!!

Actually, I'll be jumping for joy -
my test came back negative today so I can breathe a sigh of relief!

Congrats plants n' pots....that is great news!

Congratulations!!!
Best news I've heard all day!!
(All week actually!)

Weezie

get those deep breaths in now that you can!

Thanks you guys
You all helped me through the weekend -
I knew I could count on you!

Hi Kristen,

Thank you so much for thinking of me. Had the Broncosopy last Thursday, didn't feel too well until Sunday. As of Monday, I called the Doc's office to see if the biopsy lab results were in and they told me yes. I waited all day to hear from the Doc, but no luck. I called the office again at 3pm and they had the answering machine on. I left a pointed message that I really wanted to hear from him that day. I was out to client appointments today, but no message from the Doc. I will hound the office staff again tomorrow morning. Right now, it's go ahead and wait!

Lynne! Great News for you, I am so very glad!

Hi JoAnn~

Thanks so much. I know exactly what you are going through! My results came in later than they were supposed to, and that was after I was told that they needed to do the stain again, which of course put me in even more of a frenzy.

I'm sending all my good vibes to you and wishing you the best of news really soon.

Anyone start their castor beans yet?

I started about 12 in peat pellets, and about 10 more in a moist paper towel in a sealed zip-lock baggie on March 10th. All the seeds in the bag have germinated and are in the process of being potted up. About 1/2 of the seeds in the peat pellets are showing signs of life.

I hope the people I have sent seeds to are having success with theirs too!
I'd love to hear how large they get in your gardens this summer - I read on another site where a woman's plant had leaves that were 25 inches across, and saw some pictures of this plant - great stuff!

plants...I have not gotten them in yet...have my grandaughters 1st Birthday party Sat....hopefully get them in on Sun!!! I can't wait to see how big they get....first time with seeds....besides some morning glories at my dad's years ago....

...did you know morning glories spread everywhere....and that kids can carry seeds EVERYWHERE in a yard ..... Those things were springing up left and right....my poor dad was out there for several years hoeing them out!!!! Tee hee hee

At least my dad never forgot about me!!!! ROFL !!!!!