Castor bean(Ricinus communis) is a very attractive and easy to grow plant. It is distinguished by sumptuous leaves and an exotic appearance. Before we plant it, however, it is worth knowing that it is easy to poison it. See whatthe use of castor beanin gardening, cosmetics and medicine, as well as what it looks likecultivating castor in the gardenHere's everything you need to know about this beautiful but also a dangerous plant!
Common castor - Ricinus communis
Photo. pixabay.com
The castor bean is a tall plant(up to 2 m tall), grown as an annual in our climate. It has straight stems and large, palmate red leaves. It creates attractive red inflorescences that appear on the plant from July to October.The fruit of the castor is a spiky bagcontaining shiny seeds that are rich in fatty oils, toxic albumin, proteins, mucus substances and numerous enzymes.
In gardens, the most commonvarieties of castor bean , such as:
- Castor bean 'Zanzibariensis'- variety with large green leaves covered with white veins
- Castor bean 'Sanguineus'- popular variety with red leaves
- Castor bean 'Impala'- a variety with brown-green lower leaves, and brown-carmine lower leaves, flowers of this castor variety are cream, and seed capsules - chestnut
- Castor bean 'Gibsonii'- purple-red, dark leaves with a metallic sheen
- Castor Beetle 'Carmencita'- dark green, glossy leaves, flower buds and intensely red bolls
Note!
The entire plant, especially its seeds, is highly poisonous. Eating just a few seeds causes severe poisoning, diarrhea and vomiting, and eating more than 10 seeds can be fatal. Therefore, it is better to avoid planting a castor in places where there are small children.
Common castor - use
Castor oil seeds contain approximately 55% of castor oilThe oil is cold pressed from the seeds and boiled with water to remove poisonous castor oil. Castor oil differs significantly from other vegetable oils as it has a very high viscosity and dissolves well in concentrated alcohol. It was described in Greek and Roman works since antiquity, anduse of castor oilwas found among others.in as a lubricant for industrial and marine machinery.
Common castor in the garden
Fig. © Herbi, forum.PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Howeverthe use of castor oil can be found primarily in cosmeticsCastor oil is added to cosmetics such as face lotions or liquid brilliants. It is perfect for the care of dry skin. In addition, castor oil irritates the mucosa of the small intestine, stimulating its peristalsis, therefore it is a well-known laxative.
The use of castor oil can also be found in the textile industry , because the castor oil contained in castor oil is used to dye fabrics.
It is also worth paying attention tothe use of castor bean in gardeningas a plant that repels moles and voles. If we have a problem with these pests, it makes sense to sow castor seeds in the garden.On the basis of this plant, preparations are also made to repel moles and voles, such as Kretomax.
Common castor in the garden
Fig. © Saba, forum.PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Castor bean - cultivation in the garden
Growing castor bean in the gardenwill not be a problem even for amateur gardeners. The castor bee plant prefers a sunny position and well-drained, fertile soil. It is grown as an annual plant. It is propagated from seeds sown in the nest, spaced 70x70 cm, into a well-prepared and fertilized soil.Castor bean seeds germinate at temperatures above 10 ° C
Castor bean is sensitive to frost , so it is worth sowing after May 15. Sown on this date, it will grow nicely, but may not be able to produce seeds before winter comes. If we want tocollect castor bean seeds , it should be sown under cover in March, and placed in the garden after May 20, when the risk of frost is over.
Whencultivating castor bean in the gardenremember to irrigate regularly and fertilize it with compound fertilizers, as it will not grow without it.
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
