We grow castor beans in open ground. Growing castor beans from seeds How to germinate castor beans from seeds

Often garden plots are decorated with a plant that looks like a palm tree. It's called castor bean.

It is a powerful bush with beautiful patterned leaves and a thick stem.

Planting and caring for castor beans in open ground has some peculiarities.

Having familiarized yourself with them, you can easily grow a northern palm tree in your dacha.

The castor bean, or ricinus communis, or tree of paradise, is native to Africa. The climate of those regions allows the plant to reach a height of up to 10 m.

Castor bean is a heat-loving perennial plant, but in Russia it grows only as an annual.

The peculiarities of development are due to the fact that in such harsh winters the tree of paradise simply has no chance to survive.

In our country it is a shrub with a height of 2 m.

The leaves can reach 30-80 cm in width. They have pronounced veins, often green, but depend on the variety. Blooms with dense inflorescences.

After this, oval fruits with spikes are formed on the plant. Approximately the diameter of each of them is about 3 cm.

Castor bean is an oil plant. It has medicinal properties. If we talk about species, then there is only one - the common castor bean.

In addition, you can see many different varieties. They all differ somewhat in appearance, having greener, purple or reddish leaves.

Castor bean Zanzibar is a shrub reaching a height of 2 m. The palmately divided leaves are huge. Their color is red-violet.

Gibson's castor bean is a compact plant. The shrub reaches a height of only 50 cm. The leaves are dark green and have burgundy veins.

In addition, the sheet plates have an interesting metallic tint. There are purple leaf colors.

Cambodian castor bean, unlike the Zanzibar variety, can grow up to 1.2 m in height. It is also often called Indian. The leaves of the plant are dark green, and the trunk is almost black.

Bourbon castor bean is a taller plant, up to 3 m. The trunk of the plant becomes woody over time. The leaves differ in color; they are green in the center and burgundy at the edges.

Purple castor bean is very rare in home gardens. The annual plant has a unique leaf color. They are large and purple.

The Impala castor bean produces bright red inflorescences during flowering. The shrub reaches a height of 1.2 m. The leaves have red veins, the leaf blades themselves are green-bronze.

And this is not the entire list of interesting plant varieties. For example, Oracle castor oil can change the color of its leaves. It depends on the lighting and age of the bush.

Red castor bean varieties are distinguished by the dark red color of their leaf blades. These include the castor bean variety Hot Heart.

There is also a unique bronze castor bean. Its leaves are bronze in color; such a plant will become a real highlight of the entire garden.

How to grow castor beans from seeds

Propagation of the tree of paradise is possible in only one way.

Castor beans are grown from seeds.

Planting material can be purchased in stores, markets, or collected independently.

It can be grown through seedlings or by sowing seeds directly into open ground, depending on the weather conditions of the region.

Planting dates, when is the best time to plant seeds

If this concerns sowing seeds in open ground, then you can start when the soil warms up enough.

By this time, there should be more or less stable warm weather outside. There should be no frost at night.

It is recommended to start planting castor bean seeds by growing them through seedlings in the spring. The optimal time is March.

The process of scarification of seeds, how to prepare planting material for planting

If the seeds are purchased in specialized stores, they do not require special preparation.

The planting material has already been processed. It is recommended to first disinfect seeds purchased from hand or collected independently. This procedure is necessary to increase resistance to diseases.

Planting material can be disinfected as follows:

1. Pour clean water into a small container.
2. Add a little potassium permanganate.
3. Stir the resulting solution until the potassium permanganate is completely dissolved. The solution should turn out pink.
4. Carefully place the seeds into the solution.
5. Leave for 15-25 minutes.
6. Rinse with clean water.

The germination rate of seeds is small, so before sowing, a procedure called scarification is carried out. To do this, rub the seeds on sandpaper.

After this, castor bean planting material for seedlings is placed in a solution of a growth stimulator.

With this treatment, planting material will germinate in 3-4 days.

Note! Another important point is the removal of the skin that covers the cotyledon leaves. It happens that it does not separate on its own. Then you need to take tweezers and carefully remove it.

Soil for planting seeds

Since the seedlings develop very actively, it is recommended to sow in a container with a volume of at least 1 liter.

The soil for castor beans should be light.

You can purchase ready-made substrate in the store.

Drainage is poured into the bottom of the containers, and nutrient soil is covered on top.

There is no need to fill the container all the way to the edges of the earth. As the seedlings grow, you will need to top up the soil from time to time.

Seed planting process

In prepared containers with soil, make recesses for castor bean planting material.

The seeds are placed in the holes and covered with soil. The depth of embedding is about 1-2 cm. Next, everything is watered and covered with film.

For seed germination, maintain a temperature of +20-25°C.

After the first shoots appear, the film is immediately removed and placed in a sunny place.

If this does happen, it's okay.

When transplanting to a permanent place or picking, you can place the seedlings deeper into the ground.

If separate large containers are used when growing seedlings, they do not require picking.

Otherwise, prepare a larger container and carefully transfer the seedlings along with a lump of earth.

Thus, the plant will hardly feel any changes, will not get sick, and will quickly adapt.

How to care for castor seedlings

As already mentioned, caring for seedlings is much easier if you use separate containers for growing.

During the development of seedlings, they need watering and loosening of the soil. Water according to the condition of the soil. When it becomes dry, water it.

Loosening is required to keep the soil light and porous. Oxygen easily penetrates deep into the soil and saturates the root system of the plant.

The seedlings grow stronger and develop quickly. By the time of planting in a permanent place in open ground, seedlings can reach a height of about 100 cm!

Planting seedlings in a permanent place

Since the seedlings grow extremely quickly, they can be planted in a permanent place when they reach a height of 10-20 cm.

It is important to take into account that castor seedlings can be transplanted to a permanent place only if the weather outside is consistently warm.

During night frosts, the plant may freeze.

Around the end of May or beginning of June, transplantation begins:

1. Dig holes and mix the soil with compost.
2. Carefully remove the seedlings from the container. If possible, it is better to do this together with a lump of earth.
3. Next, they are placed in the hole and sprinkled with garden soil.
4. At the final stage, water.

Advice! In order for seedlings to quickly adapt to a new location, experienced gardeners recommend hardening before planting. Gradually, the seedlings are first taken out to the veranda or balcony for a couple of hours. Later they begin to increase the time to 5 hours and take the seedlings outside.

Is it possible to plant castor beans directly in open ground?

Castor beans can be planted in open ground in a permanent place of growth at a soil temperature of +12°C.

To begin with, dig up the soil and make holes.

Their depth should be approximately 1-1.5 cm.

Several seeds are placed in each hole, since not all of them will germinate - 2-3 pieces will be enough.

Sprinkle soil on top and water.

This planting method is only possible in warm regions.

For example, in Siberia they grow only through seedlings.

This is explained by the fact that spring there is quite cold, and it is not possible to get a castor tree by sowing seeds directly into the ground.

The planting material will simply freeze and will not be able to germinate.

Castor bean care

Growing and caring for an exotic palm tree is not difficult. Main important points:

1. The plant requires regular watering.
2. The location on the site should have predominant sunlight.
3. Loosening the soil is also required, approximately once every 7 days.
4. An important point is getting rid of weeds. This issue arises especially acutely at the stage of development of young seedlings. Weeds take nutrients from the soil, so they need to be removed regularly.

Do I need to feed castor beans?

The plant is not whimsical. Growing castor beans is an interesting and exciting process.

To obtain stronger, healthier shrubs, it is recommended to apply fertilizer once during the entire season.

Feed the exotic palm tree before flowering. An additional source of useful microelements can be purchased fertilizers for decorative foliage plants.

In addition, you can make fertilizing yourself:

1. Take a large bucket and pour 10 liters of water into it.
2. Add chicken manure at a rate of 1 part fertilizer to 10 parts water.
3. Mix everything thoroughly and leave for 10 days.
4. During this time, it is necessary to stir the contents of the bucket daily.
5. After the fertilizer is ready, water the castor oil plant.
6. The consumption per plant is 0.5 liters of fertilizer.

Diseases and pests

An exotic palm tree in the country will decorate any area. The tall and powerful plant looks simply amazing.

However, sometimes shrubs can be affected by diseases, including:

• powdery mildew;
• gray rot;
• bacteriosis;
• late blight

For the treatment and prevention of diseases, it is recommended to spray the plant with a fungicide or Bordeaux mixture.

When the bush begins to actively grow, it attracts pests. The most common threats to castor beans are:

• meadow moth caterpillars;
• bedbugs;
• wireworms;
• sand slow.

You can prevent the appearance of pests even during planting in open ground. For example, you can dilute a weak solution of potassium permanganate and pour it over the holes.

Planting spicy herbs next to castor beans will also help scare off uninvited guests.

This can be garlic, onion, parsley, mint and coriander. Insecticide treatment is used only in extreme cases.

How to collect tree of paradise seeds

If gardeners grow tree of paradise from seeds, they purchase planting material in a store, at the market, or collect it themselves.

Seeds begin to be collected no earlier than the beginning of September. By this time they should be ripe.

The seed material is collected and then brought into the house or other dry and warm room. Place on paper to dry. The room should also have good ventilation.

When December comes, the seeds are removed from the fruits. Please note that they are poisonous.

They need to be stored where small children or animals will not find them. Planting material can be stored for about 4 years.

How poisonous is castor bean?

When growing castor beans you need to be extremely careful. This is due to the fact that the plant contains the so-called alkaloid ricinin. This substance is poisonous.

The seeds should not be eaten. Even death is possible.

For an adult to be fatally poisoned by the substance, it is enough to eat up to 20 pieces of seeds, for a child – about 6 pieces.

In case of poisoning with the alkaloid ricinin, nausea and vomiting are observed. The person also feels dizzy, and sometimes the skin begins to turn yellow.

Important! All work with the castor bean flower is carried out extremely carefully. Be sure to use gloves for this! After work, be sure to wash your hands with plenty of clean water and soap. And in case of poisoning, you should immediately consult a doctor!

Photo of castor bean in the garden

This exotic palm tree is often used in landscape design. Many people like the original appearance of the shrub, which is why castor oil has gained wide popularity.

Warm weather will allow ornamental palm trees for the garden to grow large and powerful. Such a tree of paradise will attract the attention of all guests!

We recommend you find out:

Growing castor beans will not cause any trouble; they are unpretentious. You just need to plant it correctly and carefully care for it. But even for this, suitable conditions should be created. It is important to choose a place for planting, because an open space with winds and drafts will have a negative effect on castor beans.

Soil and lighting requirements

It is best to plant a palm tree on the sunny side (although it can also grow in partial shade), because it does not feel well during prolonged cold spells. Spring frosts can destroy the plant, so you should not rush to plant it in the ground. The soil is loose and nutritious, cultivated. The ideal option would be black soil. If castor beans grow in the shade, the leaves will be large and green. In the sun, the leaves will become red and smaller in size.

Soil moisture

The moistening of the area where castor beans are planted should be sufficient. If there is no rain for a long time, the growing palm tree must be regularly provided with moisture. From the moment of flowering to the moment of seed formation, you need to pay close attention to watering castor beans. When transplanting a seedling into the soil from a pot, it is necessary to water it with warm water, never cold well water.

Castor bean propagation

Castor beans reproduce by seeds, which ripen in fruits (they are some kind of spherical boxes covered with thorns) of several pieces. The seeds themselves can be bought at a flower shop or collected yourself from the flowers that grow in your garden plot. If you sow seeds in order to obtain seedlings, the best period for this is March and April, but if in open ground, then not earlier than May.

Planting castor seeds

Most often, castor beans are planted by seedlings. This is done so that miniature seedlings grown at home can be planted in the ground after the frost period has ended.

To plant seeds at home, you can use flower pots or plastic buckets, you can cut plastic bottles and plant them in them. The most ordinary soil will do. Fill the pots about halfway with it, and deepen the seed by 1-2 centimeters. All containers must be on the sunny side. Water generously, but do not overwater. Within a week, shoots will appear. If the seed itself is difficult to get rid of the oily skin, you can help it with tweezers. After all, if the peel remains, the process of rotting is inevitable.

When is the best time to plant seeds?

The most favorable time for the development of castor seedlings is considered to be the period from the second half of March to the first half of June. But only seedlings that are sown around mid-April will develop most rapidly and will not overgrow and stretch. Castor beans can grow in one season into a strong, powerful, healthy and beautiful plant, on which excellent seeds will subsequently appear and ripen. During sowing, it should be taken into account that the germination rate of palm seeds is approximately 50 percent.

Scarification of seeds

Since the shell of castor bean seeds is quite thick, it is quite acceptable to use scarification, that is, to mechanically damage the shell of the seed. This can be done with a simple nail file or sandpaper, running them over the shell several times. Thanks to this simple action, water will flow into the seeds much faster, and the sprout will develop faster. If the gardener does not accept this method, it is enough to soak the seeds for about forty-eight hours before planting. If you simply don’t have such time, you can use any growth stimulator - Epin, NV-101, Heteroauxin or any other. In this case, overnight will be enough.

Seedling care

Palm seedlings develop very quickly. The stems grow even before the birth of the first leaves, with the appearance of which it is more correct to transfer the seedlings to another, cooler (about 15-16oC) room. Gradually, as the flowers stretch out, you need to fill the pots with soil almost to the edge. The main thing to remember is that for good growth of castor beans you need heat and water.

Picking up seedlings

If the plants stretch too high, you can move them to another bucket, higher and more spacious. This will make it much more convenient for them. Each container should contain no more than two seedlings. When they reach a height of 20 centimeters, either leave one plant and cut the other at the root, or transplant the second one into another pot. It is not necessary to feed, the main thing is to water systematically and in sufficient quantity.

When the spring frosts have ended, the time comes to plant palm trees in the ground. In order not to injure the roots of young seedlings, you need to water them well with water before planting. Thus, the lump of earth will remain intact and “settle” in the ground. If the seeds were initially planted in peat-humus pots, then you can replant them along with them, adding a little wood ash as a mineral fertilizer.

Caring for castor beans

Since the native palm is a fairly unpretentious plant, it is easy to care for. The rarity reaches 2-3 meters in adulthood, and the leaves are large and wide. With such a size, it is difficult for a palm tree to grow straight up. It is better to provide support for her comfortable living conditions.

Watering and fertilizing adult plants

Castor beans should be watered once every 5-7 days. It will not survive drought, especially when the flowering period begins. At least a bucket of water should be poured under each plant. It is useful to add nitrogen before the formation of inflorescences. Potassium-phosphorus fertilizers will be very useful when laying a flower cluster. It is necessary to wage an ongoing war against weeds, since it is still difficult for a young plant to overcome them on its own.

Collecting castor bean seeds

If castor beans are grown in seedlings, the plant will not only be strong and pleasing to the eye, but will produce seeds in gratitude. After the flowers fade on the palm tree, they are replaced by decorative fruits that look like prickly balls, inside of which the seeds ripen. In order for them to be of high quality, 2-3 of the strongest upper inflorescences are left, and the rest is removed.

Once the seed pod becomes dry and brown, the seeds can be collected. When the summer is warm with moderate precipitation, castor beans will bloom until late autumn, and full-fledged seeds are formed in the fruits. If the summer weather is cool and “delights” with constant water from the skies, the fruits will most likely rot and the seeds will not come.

Protection from pests and diseases

To protect castor beans from diseases and pests, certain measures are taken:

• local palm seeds are harvested exclusively from clean plots of land;
• correct crop rotation (plant in the same area no more than once every eight years);
• varieties are developed that are sufficiently resistant to the most dangerous diseases;
• During the growing season, diseases need to be monitored;
• mandatory adherence to castor bean cultivation technology.

Castor bean in the garden landscape

By landscaping a garden plot, we not only create an amazing landscape, but also acquire responsibility. When choosing different plants, you need to remember that some can be poisonous. If you are not sure that any of the flowers or trees are safe and harmless, it is better not to take risks or resort to the services of specialists.

Exoticism is also popular on earth, because every owner of a property wants to show off something special, something that their neighbors or friends don’t have. But not all “green foreigners” do well in our climate. So we have to replace them with local twins. Castor bean can also be considered such a twin, because it is very similar to the African palm tree.

Castor bean is planted as an ornamental plant. Looks great in a large area, either alone or in a group of up to five pieces, consisting only of castor beans. If the group is mixed, there will not be a strong effect. The local palm tree looks good next to clematis running along a support mesh, with monarda, phlox, mallow, or as decoration on a low wall. Everything will depend on the possibility of implementing the plan and the taste of the owner.

Yulia Petrichenko, expert

Safety precautions when growing castor beans

Since the castor bean, or castor plant, is a prominent representative of the Euphorbiaceae family, it is extremely poisonous to people and animals. Planting, caring for, and collecting castor bean seeds must be done only with gloves to avoid direct contact with the skin.

Castor oil, obtained in pharmaceutical factories from palm seeds, loses its toxic properties during the pressing process. This is followed by additional processing, which finally destroys the remaining poison. Only after all these manipulations is it allowed to use castor oil in official medicine. But in home production it is impossible to isolate all toxic substances, therefore, using self-prepared castor oil will lead to tragedy.

If they will be stored in the house until the next planting of seeds, it is necessary to make sure that small children (if there are any in the family) cannot reach them. The ideal option would be to be patient until the baby stops getting to know the world around him “by heart.”

Any type of work with castor beans should only be done with gloves on. All its parts are poisonous, even the cake, although it is used to control soil pests. Under no circumstances should castor bean seeds be ingested - the toxic substance ricin they contain can lead to death (6 seeds are enough for children, 20 for adults). It is better for children not to get close to this plant. To avoid accidents, after working with castor beans, be sure to wash your hands as thoroughly as possible with laundry soap.

Growing a plant, the image of which adorned the walls of the temples in Thebes, is not at all difficult. You need desire, attention, a little work and the flavor of the subtropics in your summer cottage is guaranteed.

What do you, dear readers, know about castor beans? Have you ever wondered how Zanzibar castor beans differ from Indian castor beans? Why does the combination of Borbonian castor bean and Gibson castor bean look beautiful in one area? Share your experience of growing such palm trees in the comments and try to find answers to these interesting questions.

Castor seedlings allow you to decorate your garden with luxurious bushes with an exotic flavor. This giant annual plant grows up to 4 meters and higher over the summer and impresses with its beautiful habit.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, native to the savannahs of Africa. The plant is of impressive size with luxurious palmate-lobed leaves of a bright palette, reminiscent of a tropical palm tree. Translated from Latin, the name of the inhabitant of the subtropics – ricinus – means “mite”. This is due to the fact that the seeds of the exotic giant are similar in shape to the African tick.

Many varietal plant species with high decorative characteristics are cultivated. The representative of the African flora reproduces exclusively by seeds, which are found several in a spherical seed pod with sharp spines. At home, castor beans are grown by sowing seeds for seedlings and planting them in open ground after return frosts.

Popular castor bean varieties:

• Zanzibar - a low-growing bush, grows up to 2 meters, the leaves are painted in blood-purple colors;
• Cambodian - a tall bush, reaching a height of 6 m, leaf blades of a dark palette, the trunk is black;
• impala - a medium-growing variety with a bronze tint of bright red foliage;
• Gibson - a tall bush, grows up to 4 m, has a rich red color of the stem and leaves with a metal coating;
• Cossack - a medium-sized variety with dark red stems and rich green leaves;
• northern palm is a cold-resistant variety, the color of the leaves is deep green, the crown is dark in color.

In their natural environment - in the subtropics - perennial giants up to 10 m high live. In the middle latitude, castor bean is in favor as a fast-growing annual with an excellent habit. A culture from a hot continent prefers highly nutritious loose soil, loves warmth and light, and needs abundant watering. Grows exclusively in the ground, not suitable for growing in flowerpots. Industrially, castor oil is produced from castor beans. The plant is poisonous, including the leaves and tick-shaped seeds.

How to grow beautiful castor beans?

Exotic bushes with luxurious leaves of an impressive palette are grown by sowing seeds in open ground or by seedlings. In the first case, you need to wait until the soil warms up stable within +16°C. The culture is thermophilic, at any stage of development it reacts extremely negatively to cold, and does not tolerate even short-term return frosts. In the second case, castor bean seeds are sown for seedlings from the third decade of March to April inclusive. Planting in open ground - presumably in early June with the cessation of recurrent night frosts.

In order for powerful bushes to delight with the varietal color of gorgeous leaves, an open area with plenty of sunlight is allocated for castor beans. The crop exhibits better decorative properties in highly loose soil; nutritious black soil is suitable.

An important condition for the formation of a beautiful giant summer bush is considered to be constant high humidity in the form of abundant watering and sprinkling.

Features of growing seedlings

When planning when to plant castor bean seeds for seedlings, choose the period from the last days of March to the end of April. The sowing date depends on the climatic characteristics of the region. When choosing the time for planting seeds, take into account that the period from germination to planting in open ground is 1.5-2 months. If night frosts are possible at the beginning of June, it is worth sowing castor beans for seedlings in the last ten days of April. If agricultural techniques are followed, the seeds sprout vigorously, the sprouts develop intensively, do not overgrow or stretch.

Priming

When deciding how to grow castor seedlings at home, it is worth considering that seedlings do not tolerate picking well. The priority is to plant seeds in peat pots with light, nutritious soil. You should prepare a mixture of sand, peat, turf and humus in equal proportions. Humus is often replaced with compost. If desired, use a ready-made substrate for growing seedlings of ornamental crops from gardening centers.

Preparing and sowing seeds

Castor bean seeds have a dense shell, which is why they take a long time to germinate. The germination rate of seeds is low, a maximum of 2/3 hatch, sometimes only 50%. It is necessary to prepare the seed material in the form of soaking and germination. In this case, scarification is considered the key point in preparatory manipulations. The procedure involves partial destruction of the surface layer to provide moisture access to the core and stimulate germination.

The purpose of scarification is to reduce the stiffness of seed material by damaging the shell. To do this, lightly rub the seed with sandpaper. Next, the seeds are soaked in clean warm water for 24 hours. Afterwards, they are immersed overnight in a solution of a growth stimulator with strict adherence to the concentration.

You can do without scarification by soaking the seeds overnight in an old thermos with a water temperature of +50-60°C. They use an unnecessary thermos, since castor beans are poisonous and the container can no longer be used for food purposes.

How to properly plant castor bean seeds for seedlings:

• fill peat pots with soil mixture to 2/3 of the volume;
• the surface of slightly moist soil is compacted;
• put seeds with a reserve, 2-4 pieces in each container;
• cover with soil, deepening the seeds by 2-2.5 cm;
• water abundantly;
• If necessary, add more soil to maintain the required planting depth.

When planted shallowly, the seeds will not shed their shells; the latter remain on the cotyledon leaves and prevent the development of seedlings.

Seedling care

When planning how and when to sow castor beans for seedlings, take into account the crop’s watering requirements. A peat pot promotes intense evaporation of moisture from the soil. To maintain optimal humidity, the peat pot is placed in a plastic one. The seedlings are kept in a warm place with an ambient temperature between +20-25°C.

Shoots are observed on days 4-6. The crops are moved to a well-lit place, reducing the temperature to +15°C. Care involves timely watering to prevent the soil from drying out. If the sprouts have not shed their seed coat, you need to remove it. The procedure is performed in stages:

• moisten the seedlings with warm water using a spray bottle. Within 10-15 minutes the shell will soften;
• carefully cut the shell with nail scissors;
• remove the peel using tweezers or a toothpick. If the shell is not removed, the sprouts begin to rot and die.

After germination, one healthy seedling should be left in a pot, the rest should be cut off closer to the soil. For intensive growth, young plants are regularly fed with complex mineral fertilizers. As the seedlings develop, soil mixture is added to the pot. Two weeks before transplanting into open ground, seedlings begin to be slaughtered.

The nuances of planting in the ground

Young castor bean bushes are planted in a permanent place only after warm weather sets in. The plant does not tolerate low temperatures well; seedlings are not able to survive recurrent night frosts.

If the soil is clayey, for planting it is necessary to dig a hole 50x50 cm 40 cm deep and fill it with humus, sand, peat and turf soil in equal proportions. For sandy loam soil, peat with humus or rotted compost is added to the planting site. You should also add complex mineral fertilizer at the rate of 30-40 g per bush. Before transplanting, seedlings are watered abundantly so that it is easy to remove the root ball from the pot. Next, move the seedlings into the prepared hole with the stem buried 3 cm, water and mulch the plantings with peat.

The ideal place for castor beans is the south side of a solid fence, next to buildings or an area near the wall of a house, open to sunlight. Toxic substances of ornamental crops can repel flies, so powerful guest bushes from the subtropics are often grown near the house.

Principles of caring for castor beans

Giant bushes with large leaves are easy to care for. They grow intensively in the presence of abundant watering and are responsive to regular fertilizing. Fertilizers are applied at least 2 times a month in liquid form. It is recommended to alternate the solution of minerals in proportions of 1 tbsp. l. for 10 liters of water and mullein infusion 1:10. Plants are fed only after watering. The best decorative qualities of the crop appear when there is sufficient sunlight. However, for maximum leaf size, castor beans need to be fed with nitrogen-containing substances. Nitrogen is also necessary for the plant during the formation of inflorescences and seed ripening.

During the season, the summer plant seedlings have time to develop into a powerful bush with all varietal characteristics. By the end of the growing season, a mature plant forms seed pods with seeds suitable for subsequent sowing.

Castor beans are grown at home not for castor oil, but for decorative purposes. This fast-growing plant with a beautiful habit looks great both on the lawn and in flowerpots. Let's figure out what you need to grow castor beans from seeds, and when to plant this ornamental foliage plant.

Castor bean: growing from seeds, when to plant seedlings

Kleshchevin ( Ricinus communis) have been cultivated for more than 4 thousand years. She loves warmth, because this plant comes from Africa. It should be sown no earlier than the moment when the soil warms up well to at least +16 °C.

Castor beans germinate quickly, but if you want to get your own seeds, you need to start them from seedlings. For ourselves in the south, we have determined that at home it is best to sow castor bean seeds from March 20 to April 10. Approximately 1.5-2 months before planting in the ground.

How to properly prepare castor bean seeds for sowing

Castor bean has its own characteristics, which include the presence of a dense shell in the seeds of the plant; therefore, the seeds may not appear outside for a long time. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare castor bean seeds well for sowing.

There are many methods for preparing seeds for planting, one of them is scarification. With this technique, the seed coat is specifically damaged by friction with sandpaper. You should not rub the seed too much; just rub it a little so that the moisture can penetrate deep into the seed and it begins to germinate.

After the scarification process, the seed must be soaked in a solution of water with a growth stimulant, and strict adherence to the proportions and time during which the seeds are soaked is necessary.

You can germinate seeds without the help of scarification if you have an unnecessary thermos that you no longer use. Seeds should be soaked overnight in a thermos with hot water (+50...+60°C). Do not forget, castor bean seeds are dangerous as they contain poison.

Preparing the soil for sowing

Castor bean seeds should be grown in peat pots, as this plant does not tolerate transplantation well. To prepare the soil, it is necessary to use peat, sand, humus, and turf soil in equal proportions. Instead of humus, you can use compost or ready-made specially purchased soil for germinating seeds.

Castor bean: planting and care

First you need to fill the peat pots with the prepared mixture from the soil 2/3 in volume. The free space remaining in the pot will be needed for seeds and soil if the seedlings grow tall. The mixture of soil and fertilizer should be slightly moist. The soil surface should be compacted.

It is best to sow castor beans with a significant reserve: you need to put 2-4 seeds in a pot. After this, you need to cover the seeds with soil in a layer of 2-2.5 cm.

The layer should not be thin. If you cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil, the seeds will not shed their shells. If planted shallowly, the seed coat will remain on the leaves. And when the shell appears on the surface along with the sprout, it will become an obstacle to the development of the seedling.

It is also necessary to water the seedlings abundantly. If necessary, add more soil to the pot. A peat pot can quickly evaporate moisture. To prevent the roots of the seedlings from drying out and the plant from wilting, it is necessary to constantly maintain optimal humidity in the pot. You can place the peat pot in a plastic one, then place it in a warm place, the temperature of which is not lower than +20...+25°C.

Castor bean seeds germinate in 4-6 days. After emergence, the seedlings must be moved to a well-lit place, the temperature of which is reduced to +15°C. In a cool environment, seedlings stretch less. But this is not necessary, for example, we did not drag it from room to room, it quietly grew up along with the seedlings of other crops.

How to properly care for castor seedlings at home

It may happen that the seedlings do not shed the skin, then you should carefully cut it with sharp nail scissors. Then remove the peel using tweezers, or you can use a wooden toothpick. It is important to do this whole procedure quickly and on time so that the cotyledons do not have time to rot. 10-15 minutes before the procedure for releasing the sprouts from the shell, spray the sprouts so that it softens.

Once the castor bean seedlings have finally sprouted, you need to cut off the unwanted seedlings. In this case, it is necessary to leave one strong sprout in the pots. Excess weaker seedlings should be cut off with sharp scissors closer to the soil. This must be done so as not to harm the root of a nearby seedling.

Caring for seedlings is not difficult, the main thing is to maintain soil moisture all the time and regularly feed with homemade fertilizers, which contain not only nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, but also other elements necessary for the growth of seedlings.

What measures should be taken if the castor seedlings have stretched out?

If the castor seedlings did not have enough lighting and they stretched out, you need to add soil with fertilizer (vermicompost, compost) to the pot. About 2 weeks before planting the seedlings, it is necessary to harden them and tame them to sunlight.

When can castor seedlings be planted in open ground?

As you know, castor beans do not tolerate frost and prolonged cold weather, so castor beans should be planted after the onset of stable warm weather. At the time of disembarkation, the ground temperature should be up to +12...+16°C.

A perfect place for planting is on the south side of the fence or against the wall of the house. You can often see castor beans planted near the house, as it is believed that it is able to repel midges and mosquitoes.

But I would like to recommend that you beware of planting this wonderful ornamental plant behind the gate - children without supervision may be tempted to try the beautiful seeds, and they contain the strongest pyridine alkaloid ricinin. The ambulance may not be there in time, and the protein disorders are so severe that it will be impossible to restore health.

Planting castor beans

Castor beans can grow rapidly, but they need fertile soil. If you are going to plant castor beans in clay soil, you need to dig a hole at least 30 cm deep and the same diameter. Fill it with humus, peat and turf soil in equal proportions, mix thoroughly. Plant a seedling in the hole with a depth of 3 cm. Water well. Do not forget to monitor the soil moisture and its looseness, and do not allow weeds to become neighbors of the castor oil plant.

The poisonous properties of the plant have been known since the times of the pharaohs. But castor beans are so common for decorating fences and repelling harmful midges that many private owners plant them on their property. We also plant this beauty near the pond. We hope that after studying the main points on growing castor beans from seeds, you will be careful with this plant, and you yourself will know when to plant it as seedlings.

Planting and growing castor beans is quite simple. Typically, castor beans are planted in open ground.

In Russia, castor bean appeared only in the 19th century. It was brought from India, where there is always a warm climate. The usual habitat of this plant is tropical latitudes, under the sun of which it grows up to 10 meters. Castor bean planting and care can easily be carried out in Russian latitudes, although its height will not be so large - about 2.5 meters. The plant is distinguished by erect stems of different colors with large leaves, the length of which exceeds 50 cm.

If the conditions for planting castor beans are in open ground, you need to know that the plant is monoecious.

In other words, female and male flowers are located on the same plant. The fruits ripen in the space between the leaves and are a round, spiny capsule. It is thanks to the unusual fruits that castor bean planting and care is quite popular among Russian gardeners. Castor bean seeds have an oval shape and a smooth surface. It is worth noting that it is precisely because of the similarity of the seeds to the mite that the plant got its name. Castor bean seeds are needed to obtain castor oil. At the same time, it is an extremely poisonous plant, so cultivation and care must be done with great care. The plant contains an extremely toxic substance, ricin. You should know that eating its fruits can be fatal.

How to plant castor beans

The plant is planted in open ground at the beginning of summer and is guided by standard technology for growing ornamental crops.

Castor beans are planted on a flat plot of land that is well lit from all sides and has a thick fertile layer.

There should be no stagnation of water in the soil. If the site does not have the necessary fertile layer, before planting the soil must be dug well and humus added to it. In order for castor bean to grow well in an unusual climate, the soil for it must have good water and air permeability.

When the plant is planted in open ground, it should be compacted with earth near the trunk and watered with a large amount of pre-settled water.

In open ground you need to make holes five centimeters deep. You need to sow three seeds at a time. To protect them as much as possible from possible frosts, cut plastic bottles should be installed above them in the open ground.

Another important nuance: castor bean is a spreading crop, so the distance between holes should be at least a meter.

The culture grows very quickly, and can reach two meters in a year.

Castor bean care

Despite its unpretentiousness, the culture still needs care. The plant will feel comfortable only if the soil near its trunk is always loose and moist.

The plant needs to be fed before the inflorescences form.

Typically, nutritional complexes containing nitrogen are used for this purpose. Castor bean: planting and care is, first of all, protecting it from weeds. To do this, you need to carry out intensive weeding in the spring and at the very beginning of summer. The culture loves moisture very much, so it needs to be watered generously weekly. In order for moisture to be absorbed into the roots of the plant, it is necessary to water either early in the morning or in the evening, when the sun has already disappeared below the horizon.

Caring for castor beans is not only weeding, loosening and watering, but also protecting it from pests. It should be noted that the plant rarely gets sick, but preventive measures will help protect it from possible infections and pests. This can be done with the help of specially developed means and with the help of folk recipes. How can castor beans be affected?

Alternaria blight appears in the form of spots on the leaf part, which then affect the buds and flowers.

You can protect the crop from this fungus using Cartocide.

Verticillium wilt appears as yellow spots. This disease causes leaf loss. You can cope with it using seed protectants. Castor beans are characterized by infection with black or gray rot. The appearance of plaque leads to wilting of the plant. Using Topaz treatment, you can defeat both types of rot. Protection against powdery mildew is carried out using preparations containing sulfur. A disease such as white leg is very dangerous. It can destroy the plant, so castor beans in open ground need to be treated with “Kartotsid”.

If the crop becomes infected, it is necessary to destroy the affected shoots. Crop rotation is also important in growing castor beans. Replanting in the same place is possible only after eight years.

Castor bean planting and care: how to choose a variety

There are few castor bean varieties for open ground, however, they are all excellent for growing in temperate climates. This garden crop is quite unpretentious, but, being brought from warm latitudes, it requires shelter for the winter.

It is necessary to note the five most common varieties. Castor bean "Zanzibar" reaches two meters, but no more. It has bright red leaves and the stems are purple in color. This is an excellent tapeworm plant, in other words, it is best grown separately from others. It is in such an environment that this variety exhibits its decorative properties.

Gibson's castor bean grows up to one and a half meters in length. Its leaves are also bright red.

This variety can even be grown on the balcony, but most often it is planted in garden beds.

The “Indian” variety is distinguished by a black trunk and dark green leaves. This variety of crop is combined with other varieties of castor beans.

“Borbon tree” castor bean is a powerful plant up to three meters in length, which is distinguished by fairly large leaves and has a powerful red stem. It is planted in open ground both as a tapeworm and as an addition to the overall landscape ensemble. One of the most notable varieties is "Kazachka", which has very beautiful bright red leaves with a purple tint and red flowers.

How to plant castor beans in open ground?

The variety grows up to two meters in length.

Castor bean seeds

Castor bean planting and care is associated with the cultivation of seeds through which its reproduction occurs. They are planted in open ground conditions in early May, if the ground reaches a temperature of +14 degrees. When planting, it is important to know that the seeds do not tolerate frost, so in cold climates you should be especially careful.

To obtain seedlings, castor bean seeds are sown at the very end of March or beginning of April. If you want to get an early variety of the crop, the seeds should first be immersed in hot and then cold water, which will soften their shell.

To scarify, you can also rub the seed coat with sandpaper right before sowing, after which they need to be soaked in a growth stimulator overnight. You should know that not all seeds germinate. The germination percentage is about 60-70%.

Therefore, scarification is really necessary and useful for obtaining the required number of seeds ready for seedlings.

Each seed is planted in a container with a fertile layer of soil.

When the sprouts have appeared, they need to be peeled, as it can cause rotting. At the first shoots, the containers are transferred to a well-lit but cool place. In order for the lateral roots to begin their formation, soil must be added to the container during the growth of the seedlings. If all planting rules are followed, seedlings will appear within a week.

Application of castor beans

As already mentioned, this culture is perfect for decorating a garden landscape.

Bright leaves, flowers and trunks effectively distinguish it from other plants and accentuate the necessary garden areas.

Therefore, most often castor beans are planted separately from other trees and shrubs. However, it will look good in open ground in an ensemble with its other varieties.

It is popular to plant castor beans along fences and fences.

In addition to decorative properties, the plant also has healing qualities. Castor oil is a well-known product for treating hair and restoring the beauty of eyelashes and eyebrows. The oil is also used internally to improve intestinal motility. However, it is very difficult to make it at home. Firstly, you will need a press to squeeze the oil out of the seeds, and secondly, subsequent hot temperature treatment to destroy the toxic substance ricin.

But castor oil is not the only healing product that can be obtained from castor beans. A decoction of the leaves is popular. It is used to induce labor, treat endometritis, and also to treat burns and constipation.

To prepare the infusion, you will need two teaspoons of pre-crushed leaves. They need to be poured with a glass of boiling water and kept in a water bath for about 15 minutes. As a treatment, use a tablespoon at least three times a day.

For colds, steamed castor bean leaves should be applied to the throat. Castor bean planting and care are fairly simple activities that will decorate the landscape and add a touch of exoticism to it.

Castor bean planting and care in open ground, transplantation, propagation

Castor bean. Growing and care

Do you like palm trees? Do you want to grow their likeness? Plant castor bean (Ricinus commúnis L.), popularly called castor oil, paradise tree, Turkish hemp.

In our country, this plant is grown as an annual plant, despite the fact that it grows up to 3 m or more. In the subtropics and tropics it grows as an evergreen perennial, reaching 10 m.

Castor bean is a genus of plants belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family and includes only one species. The stems are straight, hollow inside, relatively branched, with a bluish, waxy coating. The leaves are few, huge (up to 0.8 m), long-petiolate, deeply cut, with pointed parts. Their color can be green or purple.

Castor bean flowers are small, inconspicuous, dioecious, collected in inflorescences formed at the ends of the shoots and in the axils of the leaves. The petals are light in color (white or yellowish), numerous stamens form bunches. Pistils with bright stigmas (yellow or crimson). Male flowers are located at the bottom of the racemes, and female flowers at the top.

The fruit is a large capsule (up to 3 cm) spherical in shape, in some varieties with spines or thorns. Its color can be scarlet, green or purple. The seeds are oval with a longitudinal seam, several pieces are produced in a box. Their color is spotted, the tone depends on the variety (brown, pink, gray, etc.). The shape and color of the seed is associated with a mite, hence the name of the plant.

Growing from seeds

Castor beans reproduce by seeds. Their germination rate is low. The preferred method of cultivation is seedling cultivation with sowing in April. In this case, the seeds have time to ripen. Before sowing, scarification (mechanical disruption of the integrity of the shell), which accelerates germination, is desirable. This can be done by rubbing the seeds on sandpaper. After this, the seeds need to be soaked for 12 hours in a solution of a growth stimulator, for example, Epin-Extra or Zircon.

It is better to sow the seeds in separate containers (at least 0.4 l) in disinfected soil to a depth of 1.5 cm. Seedlings are possible already on the 2nd day, and without the described preparation they have to wait a very long time. Sometimes, during germination, a peel remains on the cotyledon leaves; it must be carefully removed after preliminary wetting.

When the first true leaf appears, young specimens should be moved to a cool, bright room to avoid stretching too much. You can plant it in a permanent place only if you are sure that the period of possible frosts has ended. The earthen ball must be preserved; there is no need to bury it.

Care

The common castor bean develops well and grows only in sunny places with cultivated, nutritious, breathable soil. Regular watering is necessary, especially during flowering and fruit formation. Fertilizer application, given the rapid growth, is necessary.

Use in landscape design

Castor bean is good as a tapeworm. On a large area, you can plant three plants in a triangle against the background of a lawn, forming a “tropical island.” If the area under the plants is covered with decorative mulch, the overall appearance will be much more interesting. Can be used in mixborders.

In order not to put up supports that spoil the appearance of the castor bean, it can be planted near a net with climbing plants, letting the shoots pass through the cells. Large pointed leaves of castor bean, and later fruits along the trunk against the background of flowering kobes, clematis, sweet peas, etc. - a very winning combination.

Warning

All parts of the castor bean are poisonous; you must wear gloves when working. If there are small children in the family, then it is better to contemplate this beauty in pictures.

Growing castor beans from seeds

Castor bean is a tall, powerful ornamental and medicinal plant with large palmate-lobed leaves, reminiscent of an exotic palm tree in appearance.
If you want to bring the flavor of the subtropics to your garden, I recommend planting castor beans. Two or three copies of it will be enough to create spectacular “palm” compositions in different parts of the garden.

The Russian name for this plant, “castor bean,” comes from the Latin word “ricinus” (“mite”). It is associated with the shape of castor bean seeds, which resembles the oriental tick. Other popular names for this plant are “castor oil”, “heaven tree”, “Turkish hemp”.

Castor bean(Ricinus communis) is the only representative of this genus, which has many garden varieties.
On sale you can find seeds of green and red-leaved castor bean varieties, whose capsules are green or very bright (scarlet, red-purple).

The castor bean is native to Africa, where it grows as a perennial plant. Castor bean seeds were found by archaeologists in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs. This indicates that this plant has been used by humans since ancient times.

In particularly favorable growth conditions, the height of the stem of perennial castor oil reaches 10 m. And in our latitudes, castor oil is grown as a heat-loving annual; in our country it grows much lower.

I will share with readers of the Gardenia.ru website my experience of successfully growing castor beans in a garden near Moscow and obtaining my own seeds.

Caring for castor beans in the garden

Castor bean is considered quite unpretentious. Despite this, let's not forget about the preferences of this majestic and interesting plant by ensuring suitable conditions in the garden.
Castor beans grow better and look more decorative in sunny places. This heat-loving plant does not tolerate frosts or prolonged cold spells.

Castor bean prefers areas with deeply cultivated, loose, nutritious soil (chernozems) with sufficient moisture. In the absence of rain, especially during drought, an actively developing plant needs regular provision of moisture. It is also desirable to water castor beans during the critical period from flowering to seed formation.

Features of sowing castor bean seeds and seedling development

Castor beans reproduce by seeds, which ripen in several pieces in fruits - spherical boxes covered with thorns.

In the photo: castor bean fruits; castor bean seeds

I sow castor bean seeds in early April.

My many years of experience have shown that seedlings sown at this time develop quickly and do not outgrow.
When sown in April, castor seedlings transferred to the garden after the threat of return frosts not only have time to develop into a powerful plant that decorates the garden, but also form full-fledged seeds for subsequent reproduction.

Gardeners often complain that castor bean seeds take a long time to germinate or do not germinate at all...
I agree that the germination rate of castor bean seeds is not one hundred percent. Out of ten seeds (not purchased, but collected from my castor bean), 4-5 usually germinate...

To speed up the germination of large, slow-germinating castor bean seeds, scarification is usually used. In order for the seed sprout to begin to develop faster and be able to open the hard shell, you need to lightly rub the seed with sandpaper before preparing for sowing. Then, after the shell of the castor bean seed is broken when they are soaked, water will be able to flow inside.
At night I soak the seeds treated in this way in a solution of a growth stimulator (Epin, NV-101...)

It is better to sow castor bean seeds individually. I immediately sow them in separate plastic or peat cups to a depth of 1-2 cm.
Under good conditions for maintaining crops, seedlings may appear on the 2-3rd day.

In the photo: germination of castor bean seed; castor seedling; young castor bean in the garden

When germinating seeds, pay special attention to the cotyledon leaves of castor seedlings. They are usually covered with a sticky, oily peel, which must be removed to prevent the sprouts from rotting.
I do this very carefully, trying not to damage the delicate leaves - to do this, I moisten the peel (you can spray it) and carefully remove it.

Maintenance of castor seedlings and planting seedlings in the garden

The development of castor seedlings is very fast. Even before the first true leaf appears, the stems of the seedlings begin to stretch. Therefore, as soon as the first true leaf appears on castor seedlings, it is better to move the seedlings to a cool, bright place.

There are recommendations to carry out several transfers of developing castor seedlings, but I never do this. It’s just that when I plant seeds, I fill each cup halfway with the substrate. And then, when the seedling’s stem begins to grow rapidly, I add soil almost to the edge of the cup.

I plant castor seedlings in a permanent place after the end of spring frosts.
To prevent the earthen ball from falling apart when transferring castor bean seedlings from plastic cups into the garden, and the roots are not injured, I water the seedlings abundantly before planting.

Peat cups are convenient because they can be buried in the ground, and in this case, transshipment is not required.

Castor bean in the garden landscape

Where is the best place to place castor beans in the garden?
It depends on your taste and capabilities.

Castor bean looks beautiful as a tapeworm against the background of a lawn. If the area is large enough, you can group 2-3 plants together.

I do not agree with the opinion I heard that castor oil loses its effectiveness in compositions with other plants, when adjacent to flowers. In my garden, castor beans go well with both low-growing and tall plants: daylilies, monarda, phlox, mallow...

Castor beans look great planted next to the edge of the “green screen” formed by clematis on a support mesh.
The powerful castor bean has a stem that reaches a height of two meters or more, with a wide spread of leaves to the sides. It is sometimes difficult for such a large plant to stay upright.
I don't want to spoil the majestic appearance of this plant by installing support stakes.
Here's the solution I came up with: I carefully pass the young leaves of the developing castor bean into the cells of a nearby plastic mesh - as a result, I do without sticks and garters.

In the photo: castor bean near the net; castor beans and clematis; castor beans and mallows;

Flowering and fruiting of castor beans

Castor beans are wind pollinated, and they bloom very interestingly! Along the entire length of the vertical racemose inflorescence, the flowers are arranged in groups: in the upper part - female, and in the lower part - male.

Castor beans grown from seedlings are not only very powerful and beautiful, but also provide seeds.
When my castor bean flowers fade, they are replaced by decorative fruits - prickly “hedgehog balls” of bright red color, inside which many seeds ripen.
If the summer is not too rainy and cold, then the castor bean blooms tirelessly until frost, and the fruits have time to form full-fledged seeds.
When summer is rainy, moisture that does not dry out for a long time and low temperatures cause rotting of castor bean fruits. Then you can hardly count on your own seeds, unfortunately...

In the photo: castor bean blooms; castor bean inflorescence; male castor bean flowers

Flowering and fruiting castor beans look very beautiful.
To obtain high-quality castor bean seeds, you should leave 2-3 of the strongest upper inflorescences, and it is better to remove the rest.

I extract castor bean seeds from ripe “hedgehog balls”. First, I dry them a little, and then carefully destroy the prickly shell of the fruit. I extract the seeds from them and dry them for 2-3 weeks.

About the toxicity of castor beans

Castor beans, like all other representatives of the euphorbia family, are POISONOUS!
All parts of the plant, and especially castor bean seeds (they contain the protein ricin and the alkaloid ricinin) are very poisonous, fatal to humans and animals!
Always remember this when dealing with castor beans - carry out all work on planting, caring for and collecting castor bean seeds with gloves. After finishing any work with castor beans, wash your hands thoroughly with soap!

Healing castor oil, used in official medicine, is obtained from castor bean seeds in pharmacological factories by pressing.

Castor bean planting and plant care

At the same time, during the process of squeezing the raw material, the toxic substance ricin remains in the cake - it does not turn into oil.
Then castor oil undergoes special additional processing, during which the remaining poison in it is destroyed. After this, castor oil can be used for medicinal purposes.
Remember that it is possible to get rid of the toxic substances contained in castor bean seeds only through special industrial processing. Therefore, never try to obtain castor oil at home - because its subsequent use can lead to death!

Store castor bean seeds in a safe place, especially if you have small children: castor bean seeds should never fall into their hands! Better yet, refrain from planting castor beans until the child stops trying everything unfamiliar and interesting...

If you take the necessary precautions when growing castor beans, there is nothing to fear. Grow exotic castor beans in your garden and admire this giant ornamental plant with beautiful fruits all season long!

Lyudmila Rezhnova (Dubna, Moscow region)
Gardenia.ru "Floriculture: Pleasure and Benefit"

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This plant gives a strange feeling to those who see it for the first time. Resembles an exotic palm tree in structure. The leaves are elegant, palmate-lobed, similar in shape to the leaves of a giant maple. The bush is tall, impressive, up to four meters. The colors of the leaves are unusual. Castor bean, despite the dissonant name, gives the garden a spectacular subtropical flavor and oriental charm.

Pictured is castor bean

Castor bean grows as an annual in our latitudes. The plant belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. It has many varietal species that are used as decorative in modern gardening. Homeland - subtropics. Africa. In the wild it grows up to ten meters and grows for many years.

As a subtropical inhabitant, it loves humidity, light and warmth. Prefers loose, highly nutritious soil. Not suitable for pot growing. It is a poisonous plant.

In Russian, castor bean is (translated from the Latin “ricinus”), which means tick. The seeds of the plant look similar to a tropical mite. These “pincer-shaped” seeds were found by archaeologists during excavations of the tombs of the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt.

Castor bean varieties

Variety	Peculiarities
Zanzibar	Short (no taller than two meters). The leaves are bright blood purple.
	Up to four meters high. The leaf color is metallic red.
Cambodian	Tall, up to six meters. It has dark leaves and an almost black trunk.
Northern palm	The most cold-resistant variety. The leaves are rich dark green.
	Medium-sized variety. Bright red leaves with a hint of bronze.
	Medium-sized variety with dark green leaves on dark red stems.

How to grow beautiful castor beans

In our country, castor beans are grown during the spring-autumn season, since they do not tolerate even the slightest cold. This heat-loving annual is quite unpretentious and simple in agricultural technology.

1. Loves the sun. It needs to be grown in areas exposed to sunlight, otherwise you won’t get the varietal color of the leaves.
2. It does not tolerate not only frosts, but even ordinary cold snaps if it lasts more than a few days. Therefore, it is better to sow in open ground late than early. It is better to prefer the seedling growing method.
3. As for soil, it prefers nutritious black soil. The soil should be cultivated, highly friable, and not heavy.
4. Humidity is constantly needed to be increased. When there is drought, the leaves wither and lose their decorative properties.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

Due to the fact that the threat of cold weather can destroy the plant, in order to make the growing season safe, castor beans are grown as seedlings.

The plant reproduces only by seeds, which are found in spherical seed pods covered with sharp thorns, several in each.

During ripening, these boxes crack and castor bean seeds spill out of them.

Castor bean seeds

The time to sow seeds is already in March, but you can do this throughout April and even May. Optimally - mid-spring. The seeds sown at this time produce friendly healthy shoots, rapidly gain growth, do not outgrow or stretch out. During the season, seedlings have time to develop into a full-fledged powerful plant with all varietal characteristics. On a plant that is fully matured by the end of the growing season, seeds suitable for subsequent sowing are formed.

Castor bean seeds take a long time to germinate. Germination rate is also not one hundred percent - out of ten, at best, 2/3 hatch. Seeds need to be prepared for sowing. All methods are suitable - soaking, germination. But the most important preparatory step, without which it will be difficult for castor bean seeds to sprout, is scarification.

To scarify, the seed must be rubbed with sandpaper to reduce its stiffness.

Castor bean planting and care in open ground

This will break the shell and give the sprout a better chance of being born sooner. After scarification, you must soak the seed. First, for a day in clean warm water, and then for another night in a growth stimulator. Any stimulant can be used. The most effective in this case is heteroauxin.

Heteroauxin

You only need to sow castor beans individually in separate plastic containers, quite large and deep. More than half the containers are filled with earth. The seeds are dropped into holes two centimeters deep. They fall asleep. Crops are sent to a warm place. They can be covered with film, or not covered.

The first castor bean sprouts

After complete treatment, the seeds germinate quickly - sprouts appear within 5-7 days. It can be difficult for them to shed the oily shell. To prevent it from causing rot in the pot, the shell is removed manually, being careful not to damage the sprout.

Castor seedlings

Cotyledon leaves also form quickly. It is important at this time to maintain humidity and heat at +20°С…+22°С.

But as soon as the first true leaves appear on the seedlings, they need to be moved to a cool place - about +16°C.

Important! Seedlings need bright and long-lasting light at all stages, starting with sprouting.

Castor beans grow quite intensively and it may happen that the feeding area of ​​the pot is not enough for it. First, you can simply add nutrient soil to the top of the pot. Then transplant the plant into a larger container.

Intensive growth of castor seedlings

Planting castor beans in the garden

It makes no sense to plant before summer - any cold will destroy a seemingly powerful and large plant. When June begins, the seedlings, having previously been hardened, can be sent to the garden.

Before planting, you need to water the plants in pots well several times so that the entire lump of earth gets wet. It’s hard to believe, but castor beans are afraid of transplantation - the roots are easily damaged and then take a very long time and are poorly restored.

The soaked soil along with the roots must be removed from the pot, without breaking the coma, and moved to the prepared garden hole.

Planting a sprout in the soil

Sowing in the ground

If you don’t want to grow seedlings at home, but want to have exotic plants on your plot, you can sow the seeds in the ground. But this is done not earlier than May, closer to the middle. Since seedlings and young seedlings will not withstand even short and mild return frosts. For sowing in unprotected soil, the same seed preparation methods are used as for growing seedlings.

Holes are made in the soil. 2-3 seeds are sown in each hole. If all three or two sprout, weak shoots can be subsequently removed.

Sowing seeds in the ground

Crops must be covered with film at least at the first stage at night.

Film-covered bed

Castor bean care

An adult plant is so unpretentious that it practically does not need care. Occasionally loosen the soil at the roots and weed out the weeds. And if you mulch it with bark or pebbles to maintain moisture, then there is no need to loosen and weed.

The only condition is regular watering. It is worth monitoring this so as not to destroy the plant. Throughout the season, and especially in hot weather, castor beans are watered generously with plenty of water, at least twice a week. One plant consumes up to 10 liters of water.

The castor plant will not be offended if it is not fed anything other than water. But he responds with gratitude to nitrogen-containing fertilizers, which allow the leaves to acquire maximum size and high decorative value. The plant especially needs nitrogen during the formation of inflorescences, so that the seeds can then ripen.

Castor beans are unpretentious and require only watering

Important! Castor beans are poisonous. And not only the seeds, which contain enough poison that consuming 5-6 would lead to fatal poisoning in a child. For adults, the dose is three times more.

But it’s not just the seeds that are deadly to consume. The castor bean plant also has a poisonous stem. Despite the fact that plant cake is used as a fertilizer, it is also used to control pests living in the soil.

A beautiful but poisonous castor bean plant

Valuable castor oil is obtained from castor beans and used as a component in Vishnevsky’s ointment, but only with appropriate processing, which can only be carried out at the enterprise.

For a long time, castor beans were not in demand as a decorative element of landscape design. Today the plant is increasingly used for gardens in Oriental and African styles. It can be used to decorate walls, plant along a fence, or use it in solitaire plantings.

Castor bean - garden decoration