Free Castor Oil Plant seeds

[Printemps]

Hello everyone - this is my first posting to this site - and wondered if anyone would like to try growing the rather majestic Castor Oil plant (ricinus communis).

A neighbour gave me a young plant a few years ago and I gather the seeds each year. It's an annual, grows to around 5' before being struck down by frost. The red/bronze colouring and huge leaves make it a very interesting and eye-catching plant. I believe the seeds are poisonous (the inside), so don't be tempted to add them to a bean stew!

[FoxHillGardener]

I tried these once before and had no luck getting them to germinate. I'd like to have another go though, I've a bit better clue what I'm doing now, sort of I'll send you a message

[Amber_Robertsona]

Sounds interesting, are you looking for SAE or swap?


Regards
Amber

[nomad]

Hello
i have pm you about the seeds
cheers

[Printemps]

Amber

SAE not needed; I live in France so La Poste might not be impressed with UK stamps! Just PM me with your address and I'll get some in the post to you. Swap not necessary either; unless you have unusual ornamental grasses!

[FoxHillGardener]

Seeds arrived today Printemps. thanks again for the swap

[Crundy]

Any left?
And yes, the beans contain ricin, which is the second most poisonous substance known to man (after botulinum toxin). I learnt about it in toxicology lectures! Google Georgi Markov.

[Printemps]

Yes, quite a few left - just PM me your address.

Someone else who knew of ricin's toxicity was Dr Debora Green who attempted to kill her doctor husband, as chronicled in Anne Rule's book, 'Bitter Harvest'.

Unsurprisingly our gardens are full of potentially fatal offerings:

delphiniums
laburnum
daffodil (bulbs)
rhubarb (leaves)
laurel
jasmine
etc etc or should that be, ad nauseum !

Cheese and daffodil bulb sarnie anyone???

[Crundy]

Cheese and daffodil bulb sarnie anyone???

Just found something else out about ricin; the poison itself is two protein chains, A and B, joined by a disulphide bridge. The B chain attaches a protein on the host cell and causes invagination of the molecule into the cell. The bridge breaks and the B chain then forms a pore for the A chain to exit the vacuole into the cell interior, and the A chain then inhibits RNA translation which kills the cell. The intersting part is that many other plants such as barley contain the A chain, but not the B chain. So it's like having a gun without bullets!

Anyone who ever uses the reasoning "It's natural, so it's safe" for a food, medical, or beauty product should be promptly stabbed in the eye with a fork.

[Froginbritain]

Hello everyone - this is my first posting to this site - and wondered if anyone would like to try growing the rather majestic Castor Oil plant (ricinus communis).

A neighbour gave me a young plant a few years ago and I gather the seeds each year. It's an annual, grows to around 5' before being struck down by frost. The red/bronze colouring and huge leaves make it a very interesting and eye-catching plant. I believe the seeds are poisonous (the inside), so don't be tempted to add them to a bean stew!

I would love to give this a try. A friend gave me some plants a few years back and they looked wonderful. If you have some seeds, i would love to get some. If u answer me I shall send you my address or give me yours and i will send you a SAE for posting. Many thanks.
Claudine Muirhead, oxfordshire.

[Crundy]

Hmm, can't seem to get mine to germinate. Any tips?

[Printemps]

Hmmmm, that's odd as mine are well on their way. Because of their size I do soak them for 24hrs then plant about an 1" deep. Have you had a poke in the compost to see whether there is any sign of germination?

If no go, I'll see if I can find some more seeds.

[Crundy]

I soaked the seeds for 24 hours in water first, planted about 1" deep into pots, watered them, placed into a polythene bag, and put into the airing cupboard.

I checked one of the beans and it seems to have gone a bit mouldy and fallen apart. I guess it was kept too warm and moist. I've planted one directly into a pot without soaking, and have left it on the windowsill uncovered. I'll see if that works.

How do you store yours while germinating? Covered? Warm? Dark? I presume mine were just a bit too humid.

[Printemps]

I never cover them, nor put them anywhere specifically warm. I only precaution I do take is to see that they are in a frost-free place until ready to plant out. All my seeds are in an unheated conservatory, mind you that can mean temperatures ranging from 5C - 40C even at this time of the year. I often find self-seeded seedlings about May time and they certainly catch up with the earlier sown ones.

[Crundy]

Doh! OK, gotcha. I'll soak a couple tonight and put them in barely moist compost in a cool part of the house. Thanks!!