Bamboo from seed

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Bamboo from seed
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Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 7:47 pm Post subject:
If ever you are down this way I've a decent sized clump of Phyllostachys nigra that I could get a split off.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 7:51 pm Post subject:
My wife would kill me. And then she would hunt you down, and make you cry. Me, I care not, I think it's fine. She hates it.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16004

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 14 6:56 am Post subject:
Likewise. Good British hazel for bean sticks!!!! Mind you, you can't eat the growing tips I don't think, but the flora in a hazel wood includes some nice edible varieties.

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 14 7:12 am Post subject:

Mistress Rose wrote:

Likewise. Good British hazel for bean sticks!!!! Mind you, you can't eat the growing tips I don't think, but the flora in a hazel wood includes some nice edible varieties.

I knew you would say that.

Don't worry, i have a few acres of mainly hazel woodland and given the space will plant more. (Especially good nut producing cultivars if you can recommend any).

However, bamboo does have it's uses, not just canes and edible shoots but also good winter cover and nice noise to have.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 14 7:22 am Post subject:
Plus, of course, hazel is useless at feeding the local panda population.

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 14 7:37 am Post subject:
Well, you can't play crouching tiger hidden Labrador in winter either.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 14 10:41 am Post subject:

Nick wrote:

Plus, of course, hazel is useless at feeding the local panda population.

When I was a boy scout many moons ago, we used to harvest bamboo from a local stately home to send to London zoo to feed Chi Chi.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 14 10:42 am Post subject:
And did she ever call or write? Ungrateful beasts pandas are.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16004

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 14 6:41 am Post subject:

Perhaps it is because we have hazel rather than bamboo, but we don't have any pandas in our wood, unless you count the reverse panda effect achieved when wearing a dust mask to empty a charcoal kiln.

Treacodactyl, glad you have hazel too. I am afraid I can't help you on nut cultivars. Ours was grown for rods, and has probably been there for a couple of hundred years or even more, so don't know what it is.

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 22 7:14 pm Post subject:

I thought it might be worth updating a few old threads with progress.

I did grow bamboo from seed, it germinated very well and grew on ok for a couple of years but didn't like our winter (possibly too cold or too wet or both).

Anyway, the pot grown plants I bought took a couple of years to establish but have really got into their stride now. Next year we should be able to harvest a few canes for garden supports. We tried eating a bamboo shoot this spring and it was surprisingly good so next year well try some more. Worth growing just for food and they were not bitter at all.

I've also found hybrid willow makes a good garden support as well, cut and left to dry out for a couple of months to prevent rooting, it lasts longer than hazel.

gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8961
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 22 7:26 pm Post subject:
Pot grown sounds a good idea as it can take over! Looking back on the thread..wonder how Tavascarow is?

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 22 7:35 pm Post subject:
By pot grown I mean bought pot grown and then set free. But yes they could easily be invasive in the wrong place, mine have room to expand. Looking through some old threads there's quite a few old posters I wonder what they're now up to. One of two I've probably met.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16004

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 22 9:29 am Post subject:

I am very surprised willow lasts longer than hazel; it is usually the other way round. If you cut and dry hazel for a while it will last longer. Like bamboo, willow is invasive and I would always advise against it in a small garden. People like the idea of a living willow sculpture, but can easily end up with a willow thicket.

Having said that, our hazel is producing nuts (and squirrels) and a lot are growing. I have been taking out the seedlings for use in the woods. Last year we replaced a hedge that the power line people had removed for access.

Nicky cigreen

Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9887
Location: Devon, uk

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 22 1:40 pm Post subject:
I usually harvest pean poles from our hedging activities - I have found hazel will last for many years, so long as you keep it somewhere dry during the winter

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16004

Posted: Sat Dec 24, 22 9:27 am Post subject:
It does last well if seasoned first. I use green rods for bean sticks and they usually last about 3 years. After that they are good for kindling or the compost heap. Even hazel pea sticks will do about 2 seasons.

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