A few years ago I received some castor bean seeds from an online trade. I have been growing this beautiful plant each summer, and of course have loads of seeds. I only grow it in large containers on my 2nd story deck, so no harm will come to any wandering neighborhood kids or animals.

The local paper ran a list of people who were jailed for possessing the powder in the last several years...

It was great meetin' you Lynne,
Take Care in the Big House!!!

Weezie

Keep an eye on your "soap on the rope"!

Oh, I am just kidding!!
Honestly!
I wouldn't have a clue....
Just couldn't resist!

Weezie

Too much Weezie!
You're the first one I'm coming to for bail $.
Better start baking cakes too!

Baking cookies,
You have never tasted my cooking have you!!

You'd be there awhile!!!

Ummmmmm - not the point -
don't plan on EATING IT!...
gotta have something to hide the file in... )

I'll make you a BIG cake with a file in it.
I'll also put money on your "books" so you can shop in the despensary....need some cigs?

J/K....


Isn't it scary?

Sheesh.

Thanks Jillie - I knew YOU'D come through for me!

All kidding aside... I really would like to know if there will be a problem growing this plant anymore?!?

I can just see the police raiding my backyard...
like they did last summer across the county when they discovered a HUGE patch of marijuana growing in the foothills of someone's property!

....Helicopters.....Spotlights.....Loudspeakers....Bullhorns....


Maybe we'll see it on the 6:00 news...


I can see the headlines.....


(I don't really think we have to worry, hunny ).....but it's funny......

I agree with Jillie,
but it's been a little fun kidding you!!!

We'd all be there bailing you out Lynne,
You're great, couldn't imagine the place
here with out you anymore!!!

Weezie

The Orange outfits won't clash with your hair color will it??

EEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWW - ORANGE CLOTHES :p :p

now, a nice shade of coral, or salmon even...

that's what I love about you two -
making me chuckle last thing at night,
and first thing in the morning!!!!

(I'm a little nervous today - going for a follow-up ultrasound and possible aspiration on a cyst you know where... been through this a few times before, but it's always unnerving...)

Good, good wishes for you, Lynne

Gee, you and Hollywood, on opposite ends of the country...going for the ol' poke n' prod today...
Hollywood's getting her lung biopsy .....

Thanks so much Jillie!

I, too, wish Hollywood much good luck, and I hope they find something simple and easy to cure so she can breathe easier real soon!

Thanks, Lynne

Well, my cables' been off all day,
I'm sorry I didn't send my cheers
for both Plants and Hollywood!!!!!!
How did everything go???

Maybe should start a post in Banter Hall for that,

NOT that we would ever get off subject here!
Me? Never?

Weezie

PsssssssssT LYNNE, If your castor bean seed is the variety that grows over 6 ft., I sure would like some seed; BEFORE THEY HAUL YOU OFF!! Phil

Can I try on yer orange jumpsuit before you go????? Never wore anything orange before....

(sorry, Lynne, I jes' hadta)

ok folks, first, hope everything went the best for lynne and jc.

now about the castor bean plant, i got in my email today one of my gardening newsletters and it said that growing the castor bean plant was legal 'cause the process to get the ricin out of it was lengthy and complicated. so... send me some seeds!

Thanks, for your concern, Weez & Jiffy

Holywood (aka JC, JoAnn) came thru the biopsy ok...with little more than a cough and a sore throat today...now the waiting begins...

Hey...toss us a coupla seeds, too!

Thanks from me too, Weezie and Jiffy!
My procedure went smoothly, but now it is also the waiting for results... will hopefully have them late Monday-Tuesday. The wait is not easy, so I'll be playing lots of games here since we are housebound once again with this "lovely" mix of winter weather!

As for the seeds - I'll be happy to send them out to those who would like - just let me go downstairs and check and see how many I have first!
I've had the best luck with starting them indoors first here -
usually around mid-March.

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 !!!!!

Happy 1st Birthday to your grandaughter!

Just a reminder that every part of the castor bean plant is toxic -
ESPECIALLY the seeds,
so please be careful with your lovies!

Happy B'day to yer GranBeebee, Catlover!!!!

Regarding the toxic properties of the beans: I left the seed packets outside on my potting bench for a coupla days. They got moist from the morning fog... I looked at the packets and the beans had eaten right through the paper!!! WOW! Potent stuff!!!

'Morning Jillie ~

When you say "eaten through" the paper, do you mean that the seeds sprouted through it, or did the paper disintegrate where the beans were? It isn't the best quality paper, so I'm not surprised that it would go through... but still be very careful when handling. I'm always VERY CAREFUL to WASH MY HANDS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING HANDLING these beans. I cannot believe how many of mine germinated - I went waaaaaaaaaay overboard in sowing because I wasn't sure how many would - now I'm gonna have to beg people to take some plants, but it's hard to find people who would, because they don't want to mess with the toxicity if they have children, pets, etc...

Lynne, everywhere there was a bean touching the paper, it made a hole....wooo.... Thanks for the reminder about hand-washing after handling....45 more minutes or so and those babies are going in the ground....

Wow Jillie! Scary stuff!!! <img border="0" alt="[perplexed]" title="" src="graemlins/confused.gif" />
I found a beautiful poppy yesterday to try - this seems to be my "year of the poppy try"... it is called "Coral Reef" and the picture shows it to look just like coral. I was always afraid to try poppies because I'd always read that they are so finicky. Well a friend of my husband's gave me some seeds 2 years ago but she didn't remember the color, and I finally potted a bunch of them up about a week ago and they all seem to be starting to germinate - I'll probably have more than I need of those too!!!
Then I have the blue poppies that I mentioned in another post, and now these coral ones - great fun!

Oh, Lynne, isn't that the greatest??
Gotchur green thumb working....good for you!!!!

Okey-Dokey....

My Castor Beanies are planted....

Sounds good to me, Jillie!
I hope they grow very well for you -
my husband calls them the "jack in the beanstalk" plant because they get so large.
Mine are only in pots - are yours in pots, or did you clear space in the ground for them?
Can't wait to see what your climate does for them this summer!

They're in the ACTUAL ground!!!

Hollywood cleared a place above our retainer wall yesterday....YAY!!!

Full speed ahead then!
Can't wait to see how huge they get!!! <img border="0" alt="[perplexed]" title="" src="graemlins/confused.gif" />

By the way...Thanks, Hunny-Bunny, for those seeds!!

It was my pleasure!

Thought I'd go for my Patented, side by side comparison, and try starting some inside and some out, then to be honest, the last time I grew castor's It was in zone5/6, so maybe I should start them all inside in zone 4

Update on castor bean plants.

They are now growing in 3 inch pots and seem to be very happy so far.

castors

awesome lynne

Way to go Lynne,
They look very good!

Keep us posted, love to see how big they get!!

(Before they take you away, that is)

Weezie

Thanks guys!

Weezie - hope you're practicing baking some yummy cakes to bring me!!! :rolleyes:

How about some banana bread!!! hehehe

ok lynne, got my first bean "in the ground" (actually in a peat pot, but...) i'm so excited!! they are supposed to be perenial here. thanks for sending them!!

Holeetamolee, Lynne, I can hardly wait for mine to come up....

Castor Bean Ricinus communis

OOOH, I love my kids, but can't wait
til they are much older before I can grow
that plant, but as sooooooooooon as they are,
I'm growin' it!!!

Such beautiful color and leaves!!!!


Weezie

I think they are beautiful. but... Lynne, did you know that there is a purple blooming variety? i found that out yesterday as i was planting my seeds!

We have this dog next door....Ruby...who really isn't supposed to come onto our hillside...her owners try to control her, but she gets into this doggie "zone" and won't come when called when she's happily chasing squirrels from the base of our bird feeders.....

The beans are planted between our two houses...directly in the path Ruby takes when she's having a forbidden excursion into our yard....


She doesn't eat plants; sensible dog that she is.....but have I put her in any kind of danger by planting the beanies where she sneaks?????

Sorry I can't help you with this question, Jillie... I haven't any experience with having the plants at ground level where creatures can get to them.

I hope it isn't a problem...

Before the beans get sprouted, I'll warn our neighbors about the hazard of Ruby walking along the retaining wall where they're planted....
I don't want her to get sick....this is a NICE doggie....

Is it in a pot or the ground??
Is it moveable???
Hate to take a chance??
Is she the type of dog that chews on plants??
(you know for roughage?? Like they eat grass?)
I thought, everything about the plant was very
poisonous, leaves, seeds especially?????

Better safe than sorry Jillie!!!
You know me, miss cautious!!

Weezie

They're planted in the ground, at the top of our 5'6" retaining wall at the end of the patio, just inside our property line. No prob digging them up & sticking them in a big pot, if it's gonna hurt Ruby-dog......She's not a destructive doggie, very big, mannerly and sweet. She doesn't touch any foliage, only an "accidental trample" about once every two weeks when she answers the call of the wild for a squirrel-chase..... I'll talk to the neighbors today....Or , heck....maybe I'll just get'em outta there...

Yep Weezie... that's what I heard too, though I haven't heard of animals actually chewing on it-
the safest thing would be to mention it to your neighbor Jillie!

Jillie,
You said accidental trampling,
would a touch of the paw, on a broken
leave, stem (pieces are parts and parts are pieces)
but would the juice end up on the bottom or her
pad/paw, and would she later in her grooming practices like it/??

Just wondering, or giving extra thought if not thought about, it could very well be nothing buttttttttt.... just curious!!

Weezie

Yeah, I've been concerned about that, too...BUT...I saw some little miniature fencing at the home center...pretty reasonable...to edge the side of the plot next to the neighbors stairs. It's about 2' high...The neighbors told me that Ruby isn't allowed to have the chance of "bolting" now....She's only allowed out on the leash...due to her attention span...We have this adolescent coyote that's been hanging around our yards lately, so they've been watching her VERY carefully..

Awwwww Jillie... it's so nice that you are so concerned about your neighbor pets!
Scary about the coyotes, huh? We had a pack of about 5-6 running through our backyard a few months ago. Their cries were haunting!

Here is one of my castor bean plants, on my deck in a large pot.
It is being guarded by my new Cat Chiminea - isn't he cute?