Bamboo from seed

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

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 10:30 am Post subject: Bamboo from seed
At bit of a long shot, but has anyone any experience with growing bamboos from seed? I've not been overly impressed with the plants you can buy and I know there are people that sell viable seed but I would like to know how easy is it to germinate and grow on.

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

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 10:33 am Post subject:
No idea I'm afraid. You're welcome to come and take a chunk of ours for free if you like though.

Sally Too

Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 2511
Location: N.Ireland

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 10:43 am Post subject:

OOOOoooo Me! Me!

LOL - So I bought seed on ebay. Now this could be 10 years ago you understand. The germination rate was pretty low, but I got 3 plants to the viable - plant outside state.

I planted them as one unit, and just this year they are finally looking happy to exist. The other bamboos I have are all thriving this year too.

The ones that "took" the quickest were off cuts from other clumps from friends.

So seriously - with seed there is no guarantee - although it has given me a lot of pleasure to see it grow. (Oh they were for "giant" bamboo... no sign of that happening any time soon!!)

Bought little pots are only slightly better. Big expensive pots I guess should take....

But WAY OUT your best option is to take up the offer of off shoots from an existing clump.

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

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 11:02 am Post subject:

Many thanks Sally, that's just what I was after. Worth a go to experiment with but not really a reliable way to get some good plants quickly.

I'm after as many different cultivars as possible, hence the likelihood of having to buy most of them. I have read that a fresh clump is the best way to get them if possible and will ask around when I have space to plant them.

Sean, many thanks for the offer and I'll remember it when we get somewhere to plant them. Is it a tall, vigorous beastie, or something more manageable? I'm mainly after the large cane vigorous ones as they produce edible shoots and usable canes.

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

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 11:09 am Post subject:
It's pretty vigorous. About 15 to 20 foot tall. The canes aren't huge diameter but I reckon you could get bean poles and the like from them.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 12:01 pm Post subject:

sean wrote:

No idea I'm afraid. You're welcome to come and take a chunk of ours for free if you like though.

I can offer the same. I think we have three varieties, ranging from tall and vigorous, to smaller and less of a PITA. I have tested none of them for panda friendliness, but certainly we have bean pole style lengths from them.

You have no idea how happy I would be to get you some. They are likely to be mini diggered at some point.

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

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 12:33 pm Post subject:
Thanks Nick, although the transport of large clumps of bamboo to the remote parts of Devon would be difficult. If you do plan to dig them up I would have thought you could freecycle them locally? Do you know what cultivar they are and have you tried eating the shoots?

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 12:41 pm Post subject:
Bah, you forget I travel the world, and that includes Devon! I could freecycle some, for sure, but there's probably enough to go round. I have no idea what they are, they were planted before we bought the place. And, as for eating, no. Haven't tried. Should do, tho.

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

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 12:50 pm Post subject:

I was thinking more about getting the rootball and plant into the car, trimming the top shouldn't do them too much harm but I don't know. I drove a smallish pot grown one home the other day and that was bad enough, although I did learn they seem to be scented when stuck in a car!

As far as my limited knowledge goes (don't take my word for it) most should be edible but some are quite bitter. Knowing the variety would tell you which ones would be worth trying and which are best to leave for canes etc.

DorsetScott

Joined: 23 Oct 2011
Posts: 500
Location: Bournemouth

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 3:17 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

As far as my limited knowledge goes (don't take my word for it) most should be edible but some are quite bitter. Knowing the variety would tell you which ones would be worth trying and which are best to leave for canes etc.

I'm pretty sure you're right, and that the majority of the bitterness dissapears on cooking. But I could also be wrong

jamanda
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Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 3:39 pm Post subject:
I was snaffling a few canes for gardening purposes the other day and was wondering about the soft tips. Do you peel slice and boil?

DorsetScott

Joined: 23 Oct 2011
Posts: 500
Location: Bournemouth

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 3:47 pm Post subject:
I seem to remember that you don't even need to peel them you need the brand new growth, tips that are a couple of days old. Again, can't remember where I read it so could be completely wrong

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

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 4:00 pm Post subject:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ggwa5irxmg About 2:30 into the video.

jamanda
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Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 4:57 pm Post subject:
They look quite similar to the ones we have.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 14 5:04 pm Post subject:
He looks quite similar to Neil Morrissey. Thanks for posting. I'll have a look, but I suspect mine are all too tall, and it'll need thinning out to force fresh shoots.

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