2014 SPRING HOME AND GARDEN “OUT OF THE ORDINARY” LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.COM May 1, 2014 5
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Having the plants outside a bedroom window, for example, will
allow for open windows and blinds in the late summer when nights
start to cool. In addition, the rustle of the extra-large leaves in a
gentle breeze can be very relaxing as one prepares for sleep.
The plants are believed to
have originated in the tropical
climates of east Africa, but
history shows they have
shown up in several other
places, such as Egypt and
China.
Locally, the plants can be
grown from seed as an annual
and will thrive in the warm
summer days of Logan
County. The seeds are not
readily available in this area
but can be found in many
of the popular garden seed
catalogs. The nice thing is,
once you buy the first seeds,
you need never buy again.
The plant produces a cluster
of seed pods late in the
growing season. The pods
can be harvested and the seed
saved for future plantings.
To harvest the seed, the best
method may be to cut the
entire cluster off the stalk,
drop it into a paper bag and
store it for the winter in a cool
but not freezing location.
Each pod will have three
segments. When you’re ready
to plant, pop the pod apart,
then break open each segment
to find the bean-shaped seed
inside. If you want to add
drama to the yard instantly,
start the seeds indoors under a
grow light, and then transplant
the young plants into your
garden.
Another great advantage for
the treelike plant is that it will
provide shade for less heat-
tolerant plants such as impatiens.
Set your castor plants 2 to 3 feet
apart, then fill in with flowering
annuals that like shade or partial
sun, and watch your garden go
from pretty to pretty remarkable!
