Name: Castor bean
Brand: Green Legacy Seeds
SKU: Veg5
Price: 9.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

Source Data

Castor beans, Castor oil plant, Ricinus plant red giant (Lat. Ricinus, Ricinus communis)

In tropical and subtropical areas , castor is an evergreen shrub up to 10 m high . In the conditions of culture in temperate countries (Russia and others), it is an annual plant up to 2-5 m tall.
The stems are erect, branched, hollow inside, pink, red, purple or almost black, covered with a bluish waxy coating.
The leaves are large, 30-80 cm long, deeply cut, sometimes separate, pointed, unequally toothed, dull green with petioles 20-60 cm long.
In summer, racemose terminal or axillary inflorescences of green with a red tint of flowers appear. Castor is a monoecious plant: male and female flowers are located on the same plant; male in the lower, and female in the upper part of the inflorescence axis. The flowers are small, light cream or white. Stamens are numerous, collected in branched bundles. Pistils with a three-part column and fringed stigmas are red, crimson or light yellow.
The fruit is a spherical naked or prickly capsule up to 3 cm in diameter. Located between the leaves, the fruits give the plant a decorative appearance.
Mature seeds have an oval shape. On the dorsal side they are convex, on the abdominal side they are flatter, there is a longitudinal seam in the middle. The seed shell is smooth, shiny, variegated, mosaic. Depending on the castor variety, the mosaic can be brown, pink, light pink, contrasting against the background of the seed. The background color varies from gray to copper-red. Thus, the seed resembles a tick in its shape and mottled color, hence the corresponding name of the plant. At the top of the seed there is a seedling, easily falling off and having the appearance of a white appendage.

Instructions

Growing Castor bean (Ricinus communis) from seed is a rewarding process. Follow these guidelines for best results.
Seed Preparation: Scarify the seed coat by nicking with a knife or rubbing with sandpaper, then soak in warm water for 12–24 hours before sowing.
Sowing: Sow seeds 0.5–1 cm deep in well-draining seed compost. Water gently and keep consistently moist but not waterlogged. Place in a bright location at 18–22°C.
Germination: Seeds germinate quickly in 5–14 days once scarified and sown. Seedlings grow rapidly. Provide full sun after germination.
Transplanting: Transplant seedlings into individual pots once they have 2–3 pairs of true leaves. Harden off gradually over 7–10 days before planting in final position. Space according to the mature size of the species.
Aftercare: Water regularly during the first growing season. Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring. Mulch annually to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Prune as needed to maintain shape.
Hardiness: Hardiness varies by species and growing conditions. Young plants may need protection from extreme temperatures. Acclimatize gradually to outdoor conditions.