Watering. Commonly found in the wild along stream banks, riverbeds on low lying areas, this aggressive vine is the source of one of nature’s best natural oils, castor oil. (Anything too small will restrict their growth.) I planted it in a spot I thought it would like judging from the others I'd seen, and it has thrived right outside my back door. It is thought to be native to the tropical regions of Africa. But did you have any idea that it is an ingredient in Castrol motor oil, a product that owes its very name to castor oil? Step 1: Castor Plant From Seeds These are the Castor seeds I collected from my friends. The spinoffs from the growing of the castor beans for Zimbabwe will create numerous opportunities such as the opening of new industries that will value-add the crop. Learn more about this interesting plant as well as castor bean plantation. They’ll do well in pots too… big pots! As the name implies, this variety of Ricinus communis features maroo… Prior to planting, the seeds should be soaked in slightly warm water for at least a day and the seeds should be planted in good quality soil which is well-drained. The coats of the seeds contain ricin, a deadly poison.If there is any chance of their being eaten, break off the flowers. Castor bean thrives in rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil. Castor is drought-tolerant once established. But its height is just one attribute that makes castor bean stand out in your landscape. Let's consider the three T's: tall, toxic, and tropical. Castor bean plants are stunning with their mammoth star-shaped leaves that can reach 3 feet (1 m.) in length. “We started growing castor bean last year in August. Even the seeds, themselves are attractive, sporting an endless number of color patterns. As gardeners, let's focus upon the bold, decorative foliage, that makes this plant so attractive in garden settings. If you are making a hedge with your castor beans, plant them at least 4 feet apart. Unfortunately, the literature on the subject can't seem to decide whether the plant was named after the tick or vice versa. Regardless of the confusion surrounding the origin of the botanical name, castor bean plants merit specimen status, possessing some ornamental traits for which other plants would kill. Water the beans once they’ve been planted, but only until the soil is moist. It is suited to growing zones 9 through 11, where it is classified as an herbaceous perennial. The caster bean plant itself is not poisonous to humans, but the seeds are. These fast-growers will typically reach a height of 6 to 10 feet (occasionally becoming as tall as 15 feet when started early in a greenhouse and provided with ideal conditions). Use 1/2 cups for a 100-square-foot area around the plants. That's just one of many benefits from this plant that most people would find surprising. Castor beans are not true beans; that's just a nickname. The plants belong to the Euphorbiaceae family. Growing these plants from castor bean plant seeds is the most popular and easiest way to get started. Keep the soil adequately watered all summer. Castor beans grow best when planted in the garden in rich, moist, well-drained soil. It is perhaps the appearance of these seeds that give the plant its genus name, Ricinus, which translates as "tick" in Latin (there is also an unrelated perennial named "tickseed"). Use a well-draining potting mix and quart-sized pots. The seed may fail to set, however, if the temperature stays above 100°F for an extended period. Species Growing Guide: Ricinus communis the Castor Bean How to Grow Castor Oil Plant and other Ricinus Plants in the Garden It is best to start off Castor Oil plants indoors. That makes them relatives of poinsettia plants and wood spurge. Therefore, growing castor beans in the home landscape is not a good idea if you have children or pets. Gardeners should check with local municipal codes prior to planting castor bean s to ensure it is not unlawful. Nick or scarify the seeds or soak overnight for better germination. The soil must be able to warm up early in the spring. It is used as a lubricant in high-speed engines and aero planes, in the manufacture of soaps, transparent paper, printing-inks, varnishes, linoleum and plasticizers. Soak your castor bean seeds in water for 24 hours before planting. (This should replace one the the regular weekly waterings.) It is fairly easy to grow a castor bean plant. Maintain a soil temperature of 70°-75° until germination, which only takes 15-20 days. To prevent castor bean plants from spreading into wild areas, trim off any flower heads as soon as they die back. Do not overwater newly planted beans, otherwise they may crack. The Castor Bean plant is well known for a couple of reasons. When these pods dry, they explode, turning the seeds that had been trapped within into projectiles. Sow seeds indoors in moistened growing medium, 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Does the danger posed by castor bean plants frighten you? Many varieties of ornamental castor beans are available and make a bold statement in any garden. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Some plants, while they have roles to play in your landscaping, are hardly conversation pieces. These are large plants that require a lot of nutrients. If you grow several of them, this trait can make them useful as living privacy fences for the summertime.Â. Due to its large size, allow enough room for this fast-growing plant to expand. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. In warmer areas, or once the soil can be worked and the threat of frost has passed, castor bean seeds can be sown directly into the garden. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. Deadly Caster Bean. While the flowers are insignificant, the red seed capsules covered in spines do possess ornamental value. Castor bean plants, which are not beans at all, are commonly grown in the garden for their striking foliage as well as shade cover. In tropical climates, it becomes weedy and spreads aggressively if given the chance. It's not often that a landscape plant makes it so big in the news, but, then again, our tall, toxic, and tropical star has a way of garnering the limelight. Their toxicity might be problematic for young children. First soak the Castor oil seeds for a day in warm water, then sow the seeds about 6 mm deep into peat pots about six … It is because castor beans possess these three qualities (and more) that they are such interesting plants. In warm areas, this striking plant is grown as an annual. The first step in good plant care is selecting an ideal location for your specimen and improving the soil (if needed) in that spot. Sow the seeds 1-1½ inches deep. If you doubt the soil's fertility, work some compost into the ground. Hailing from Africa, Ricinus communis has naturalized in many other warm areas of the world. Within 10 to 15 days you will find the seeds … It should be noted, however, that the toxins do not pass into the oil. The alluring seeds are tempting to young children. Castor beans grow best where temperatures remain fairly high throughout the growing season of 140 to 180 days. Castor Bean Germination Techniques. We were looking for something to do and heard about castor bean farming through a friend,” Yeatman told the Standardbusiness. The coarsely-textured leaves furnish fodder for dramatic textural contrasts with plants that have smaller leaves. Even the green-leaved types attract attention because the leaves are star-shaped. Castor bean plants (Ricinus ommunis) are native to the Ethiopian region of Africa but have been naturalized in warm climates all over the world. You can add compost or a slow release fertilizer to the soil before planting. Let me Google that for you. Once a month, apply a general purpose fertilizer such as a 10-20-10, 5-10-5 or a 10-10-10 formula. As ornamentals, castor beans are sometimes planted as an annual hedge or screen. Kembo said one advantage of castor beans is that it was a drought resistant and it can be grown in all parts of the country with the exception of Nyanga and surrounding areas because of the low temperatures. Easy to grow from seed, castor bean is most widely cultivated in tropical regions. The seeds yield an oil that is used commercially. Some gardeners, at least, are aware that castor beans are used in companion planting to serve as mole repellents. A: Castor bean, or castor oil plant, is indeed a stately, striking and beautiful plant in the garden, with a bold texture and a tall, upright form unlike most other plants. Growing Castor Beans. Castor plants like full sun and humid conditions. Introduction of Castor Cultivation:- Basically , Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is grown for its seeds.The oil extracted from Castor seed is being used widely for various purposes. Provide loamy, moist, but not soaking wet, soil for best results. Growing Castor Bean Plants from Seed. But in the North, it's pampered like the star that it is and only works summers, as if it were an annual. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. No hydration needed - just make sure to get them into water. It can handle part shade, but it needs full sun to achieve the best height and flowering. Grow castor beans in an area with full sun and good drainage. Castor Cultivation. How warm? How to Grow Castor Beans. When grown as an ornamental, castor bean can be planted directly in the garden in late spring, or started indoors earlier (6-8 weeks before the average last frost) and transplanted outdoors when the weather warms. Tropical plants such as castor beans have a certain cachet in the Northern landscape, where they offer an exotic look. Castor Bean Toxicity Seeds Main article: Ricin The toxicity of raw castor beans is due to the presence of ricin. It is not designed to evoke such a response; instead, its purpose is to play a supporting role. 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