Castor bean planting dates in 2020 and cultivation features

Planting castor oil plants In 2020, seedlings should be planted based on the lunar calendar, as well as the specific characteristics of the growing region (climate and topography). Favorable planting times typically fall between the last ten days of March and the first half of April. To decorate your garden with a beautiful, exotic plant, you also need to carefully select the variety, which will determine the cultivation techniques.

Recommendations for choosing a variety

Since the castor oil plant is a tropical plant native to Africa, it thrives in warm conditions. In its natural habitat, it grows as a perennial evergreen shrub. In temperate climates, including the Moscow region, it grows as annuals with erect, branched shoots that can range in color from pink, purple, brown, and even black. The stems, covered with large leaf blades, are hollow inside. The plant is cultivated for its decorative qualities, which become apparent in summer when racemose inflorescences form against a backdrop of greenery. The seed pods, or fruits, also add charm to the bushes.

Breeders have developed numerous varieties of the oilseed plant with medicinal properties. They all differ slightly in appearance. There's only one important piece of advice: when choosing a variety, consider its size and the available space in the garden. However, since they are all heat-loving, there are no specific recommendations for the agroclimatic conditions of different regions.

Ornamental castor oil plant varieties, thanks to their diversity, create unique compositions. Popular forms:

1. 'Cambodian' is a tall variety, with shoots reaching 5-6 meters. This variety is characterized by rich black tones, which appear on both the leaves and stems.
2. 'Zanzibar' is a medium-sized castor oil plant (up to 2 m). Its large, serrated leaves are purple in color and have a reddish tint.
3. "Kazachka" owes its popularity to the contrast created by the green leaves attached to the red shoots. Its decorative qualities have received nearly top marks.
4. "Northern Palm" is a variety zoned for the Trans-Urals and Altai regions. The bush can grow up to 4 meters in height. The foliage is a rich green.

Sowing dates

When determining when to plant a crop from seeds, consider the plant's nature. Since it's native to Africa, it requires warmth. Planting in open ground occurs after stable warmth has been established and the soil has warmed up well. From this point, the countdown begins to determine the optimal timing.

By the Moon

Since the moon influences plants, to achieve rapid germination, it's important to consider its phase and constellation. According to the lunar calendar, favorable days for planting castor oil plants fall on dates when the moon is waxing and in fertile signs. Then, the seedlings will be strong and resistant to pathogens and adverse weather conditions. The best planting days for castor oil plants are presented in the table:

Regional influence

Although the shrub is heat-loving, it can be grown in any region. However, to grace your garden with a healthy, robust plant and enjoy its flowers sooner, it's important to properly time the sowing time indoors (or at home) to force the seedlings to maturity. This depends on the region:

The nuances of forcing seedlings

In regions with a mild climate (Krasnodar, Crimea), it's acceptable to grow the shrub by direct sowing in open ground. However, for most areas, only seedlings are suitable. Store-bought seeds or home-collected seeds can be used for sowing. However, in the latter case, there's no guarantee that the grown plants will inherit the varietal characteristics.

Seed preparation

Store-bought seeds don't require any special preparation, as they're stratified and pelleted at the factory. However, home-collected seeds should be disinfected to ensure strong, pathogen-resistant seedlings. Step-by-step instructions:

1. Pour clean water into a small container.
2. Add a little manganese to make a pink solution.
3. After the preparation has completely dissolved and mixed thoroughly, place the seeds in the liquid and leave for 20 minutes.
4. After the specified time, the seed material is washed with running water.

Since castor oil plants have a low germination rate, it's best to scarify the seeds. This treatment will allow the seeds to germinate in just 3-4 days. Here's the step-by-step procedure:

1. The seeds are rubbed against sandpaper.
2. Take a glass container, pour water into it and add a growth stimulator.
3. Place the “injured” specimens in the solution.

Soil and container requirements

When choosing containers, consider the intensive growth of the seedlings. To ensure sufficient container volume, choose pots with a capacity of 1 liter. Since the plant reacts strongly to transplanting, it's best to use peat containers for planting castor oil plant seedlings in the garden or flowerbed. Place a layer of drainage material (gravel) at the bottom of the container.

For the root system to fully develop, air must penetrate well to the underground portion of the plant, which is ensured by light, loose soil. The substrate can be purchased ready-made or prepared independently. In the former case, the soil mixture can be used immediately. The prepared soil, consisting of peat, humus, turf, garden soil, and sand (in equal proportions), is first disinfected by baking it in the oven at 200°C for half an hour.

Seeding technology and care

Once the optimal time has arrived, the main work begins. The sequence of actions is as follows:

• Fill the containers two-thirds full with potting soil. Leave room to cover the seedlings with soil and add more nutritious soil as they grow.

• The substrate is moistened and lightly compacted with a spatula.
• 2-3 seeds are placed in individual containers, which acts as an insurance fund.
• A small amount of soil is added on top—2-2.5 cm. The layer shouldn't be too thin. Due to this poor agricultural practice, the seedlings are unable to shed their seed coats. These remain attached to the cotyledon leaves, not in the soil. Along with the seedlings, the seed coats end up on the surface, where they hinder plant development.
• The crops are watered generously. If necessary, if the soil "settles" significantly, add soil.
• The crops are covered with polyethylene to prevent moisture evaporation, maintain high humidity and an appropriate temperature in the range of 22-25 °C.

After the seedlings emerge (after 5-7 days), the containers can be moved to a bright windowsill and the greenhouse film removed. If there's insufficient light, maintain the temperature at 15°C. This prevents the seedlings from stretching. If the seedlings still have a sheath on the cotyledon leaves, cut it with nail scissors and remove it with a toothpick. This procedure must be performed immediately. Otherwise, the cotyledons will rot.

Thinning is an important agronomic practice for seedling care, carried out immediately after all seedlings have emerged. Leave the strongest seedling in each container, carefully removing the weaker ones to avoid damaging the root system of the remaining ones. Rather than pulling them out, it's best to trim them with scissors at the substrate level. Regular, and therefore essential, seedling care consists of maintaining constant soil moisture and fertilizing. Fertilizing is done every two weeks using complete mineral agrochemicals. These complexes should contain not only macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) but also micronutrients (iron, zinc, boron, etc.).

Planting in the ground

The plant can be transplanted to its permanent location after the onset of consistently warm weather. This is essential because castor oil plants are intolerant of short-term frosts and prolonged cold spells. The soil temperature should reach 13-15°C. For this exotic palm, choose the south-facing side of a solid fence or the wall of an outbuilding. Castor oil plants are often planted near the house because the scent of their flowers repels flies.

Because the plant grows rapidly, it requires a large amount of nutrients. A site with a rich humus layer is selected for planting. If the soil is poor, peat and humus are spread evenly in layers when preparing the land by digging. Clay soil can be lightened with sand. Compost can be used as a "natural loosening agent," which also supplies the soil with macro- and micronutrients.

Once the seedlings have hardened off and stable warmth has arrived, begin planting the grown saplings. The main steps are:

1. A hole is dug on the site, the dimensions of which correspond to the root ball of the planting material.
2. Add 30-40 g of complete mineral fertilizer (nitrophoska) to the hole, add soil, and mix. This helps prevent root burn.
3. Place the seedling with the stem buried 2-3 cm deep.
4. Make a small ridge around the perimeter of the hole to prevent water from spreading when watering.
5. Moisturize generously.
6. After the water has been absorbed, the tree trunk circle is mulched with peat to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture and the formation of an airtight crust.

Secrets of care

The unpretentious castor bean plant requires only regular watering, but avoid allowing the water to stagnate. A dry surface layer (2 cm) indicates the need for a new supply of settled, room-temperature water. After watering, the area around the trunk is loosened to maintain free oxygen access to the roots. To prevent moisture evaporation during dry periods, mulching the beds with peat, sawdust, or compost is recommended.

Read also

How to plant bulbous flowers in the fall: planting times, features
Autumn is full of work for gardeners, besides harvesting, including planting flower beds and other winter-winter plants. It's a mistake to think this is an easy process that requires no knowledge or skill. If done incorrectly…

 

An exotic palm tree will grace any corner of your dacha. This tall, vigorous plant looks decorative anywhere. However, the shrub can sometimes be affected by diseases such as powdery mildew, gray mold, bacterial blight, and late blight. For treatment and prevention, spray the plant with a fungicide or Bordeaux mixture. Pests include bedbugs and the meadow moth. Systemic insecticides are used to control them.

Helpful tips

If sowing for seedlings was delayed and the weather has already become consistently warm, you can plant seedlings 20-30 cm tall in open ground. They grow very quickly and can reach a height of 1 m in just a few weeks. After planting the fragile seedlings, carefully monitor weather forecasts to avoid unexpected frosts.

Read also

Selecting gladiolus shoots for storage and planting
Gladioli are a delight to any garden. This perennial flower, however, its bulbs age and degenerate over time. If you don't consider the rotation of generations, the variety will be lost. Average lifespan

 

Castor oil plants are easy to care for. Cultivating them is an interesting and engaging process. To ensure a stronger, healthier plant, fertilizing once per season is recommended. Fertilize the exotic palm before flowering. A special complex for ornamental foliage plants can provide an additional source of beneficial micronutrients.

If you sow seedlings on time, decorating your garden with exotic plants is easy. All you need is proper and regular care for your ornamental plants.