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Bamboo
Mar 20, 2014 9:55:15 GMT -5
Post by blackox on Mar 20, 2014 9:55:15 GMT -5
Looking into growing bamboo for use in the garden and maybe for use as fencing. Preferably a larger, non-invasive type that won't crowd out the native trees and forever change the ecosystem, any suggestions? Will most species work for those edible bamboo shoots that you find in Chinese food?
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Post by blueadzuki on Mar 20, 2014 12:12:01 GMT -5
The answer to the second question is unfortunately, no. Different bamboos vary with regards to edibility. It's not that the others are poisonous, but they tend to be too tough, too bitter or too small to be worth consuming. The Wikipedia listing for "bamboo shoots" has a list of some of the more common ones that are considered worth eating en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_shootThe standard "non-invasive" landscaping bamboo is on the list, but is listed as not being regarded particualrly highly.
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Bamboo
Mar 20, 2014 13:51:46 GMT -5
Post by rowan on Mar 20, 2014 13:51:46 GMT -5
I am growing Black Asper bamboo for food as well as making things as it is a huge growing, clumping type. Unfortunately the large, clumping types are not very frost tolerant. Black Asper is the only useful clumper that will take my climate, but it still will not take a colder climate then mine (down to -3C occasional frosts). Mine are two years old and since they stop growing in winter I am guessing that it will be another 3 years before they are useful. Because of my climate it will not grow as big as it does in the tropics but I still have high hopes for it.
I have a couple of pots of Moso but I am afraid to put them in the ground because they are huge runners. I have researched ways to keep them in check but because all my land is leased I doubt that my block owners will appreciate me putting a runner on their places.
You have to take a few things into account when you are going to plant bamboo. Edibility if you want shoots, as mentioned some are bitter, wood quality if you are going to use them for making stuff, some split easily or are hard to work, and of course runners (take cold) or clumping (tropical).
I did quite a bit of research before buying seeds of Black Asper which seems to suit everything I need.
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Bamboo
Mar 20, 2014 14:58:03 GMT -5
Post by copse on Mar 20, 2014 14:58:03 GMT -5
The answer to the second question is unfortunately, no. Different bamboos vary with regards to edibility. It's not that the others are poisonous, but they tend to be too tough, too bitter or too small to be worth consuming. The Wikipedia listing for "bamboo shoots" has a list of some of the more common ones that are considered worth eating en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo_shootThe standard "non-invasive" landscaping bamboo is on the list, but is listed as not being regarded particualrly highly. Thanks for that. I did lots of searching on this topic recently, but don't know how I could have missed this page. Given I'm supposed to have Phyllostachys Edulis, I'll be looking forward to the winter shoots
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Bamboo
Mar 20, 2014 21:34:05 GMT -5
Post by 12540dumont on Mar 20, 2014 21:34:05 GMT -5
I just planted my bamboo. I've had it in a pot worrying about it running. Finally I just put the first one of three in the ground and said, run run as fast as you can. After all, it's a drought year, where you going to go without water? I planted timber bamboo. I'm hoping for a forest! (Stakes, buildings, paper)
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Bamboo
Mar 20, 2014 22:03:31 GMT -5
Post by steev on Mar 20, 2014 22:03:31 GMT -5
I planted some on the farm, hoping for something to wok, or to attract gorillas or pandas; didn't work out at all. I've still got my bamboo-splitter (had to buy it; seemed like a cool tool). I am a tool-horse; I admit it. Got around last year to using the scythe I'd bought ~25 years ago; it's as good as I knew it would be. I look forward to using my ditch-bank (so medieval!).
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Bamboo
Mar 21, 2014 8:06:16 GMT -5
Post by blackox on Mar 21, 2014 8:06:16 GMT -5
I was wondering about the edibility of the shoots (thanks, blueadzuki!) as it would be a nice bonus. I plan on using it mostly for garden stakes, and maybe for building things (fencing mostly, but bamboo booby-traps for around the property would be great! Maybe some of those protective wooden spikes that you might see on a medieval castle...). My main concern is having it spread into the next county. How would you confine it to one area? I have read a few way of doing it, mostly very costly or involving pesticides (not going to happen). I probably already know the answer but is there an easier way? I thought about getting some goats to help keep it down. That timber bamboo work fine here and be great for everything that I want to use bamboo for, but it is a running type. I have located a few clumping types that might be suitable for my area with some strategic planting and a little bit of protection. How far will the clumping types spread? My parents are worried about them becoming an invasive species/nuisance like the House Sparrows. From what I've read they don't produce seed. "Alphonse Karr" and "Golden Goddess" are two of the clumping types that I am considering getting. I have located a supplier, TyTy Nursery. Have any of you ordered from here, is it a company worth ordering from? Their website has some other clumping varieties that sound like they may be suitable. I'll probably end up getting Golden Goddess, so they don't shade anything out. Website here, not sure if they ship internationally. www.tytyga.com/Bamboo-Plants-s/1823.htmSteev, I've managed to attract monkeys without even planting bamboo, they're not any ordinary monkeys either - they're flying monkeys! The locales call them "crows."
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Bamboo
Mar 21, 2014 13:39:24 GMT -5
Post by rowan on Mar 21, 2014 13:39:24 GMT -5
Clumping bamboo clumps get bigger but don't have runners so you can control them by cutting new shoots from around the edges. There are good ways to control runners but you have to stay on top of them and not ignore them for too long. The bamboo forums are a good place to find out the various ways.
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Bamboo
Mar 21, 2014 14:55:20 GMT -5
Post by raymondo on Mar 21, 2014 14:55:20 GMT -5
My neighbour had a running bamboo about 3 metres from the fence. For years it seemed well behaved then we had a particularly wet summer. It must have been running underground all that time because the damn thing popped up all over the place, including my place. I convinced the neighbour that it had to go but it took three years before we could say it was gone. It was damn hard yakka digging it out.
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Bamboo
Apr 2, 2014 11:00:13 GMT -5
Post by oldmobie on Apr 2, 2014 11:00:13 GMT -5
My main concern is having it spread into the next county. How would you confine it to one area? I have read a few way of doing it, mostly very costly or involving pesticides (not going to happen). I probably already know the answer but is there an easier way? My wife got me some for Christmas a few years ago. The guy she bought it from said he just tills around the outside frequently. According to him, the new shoots are tender and easy for the tiller to cut off.
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josh
gopher
Posts: 14
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Bamboo
Apr 10, 2014 8:29:27 GMT -5
Post by josh on Apr 10, 2014 8:29:27 GMT -5
You have no concerns with the clumping varieties, providing you wont want to dig around where you plant them, the fibrous root mass is not fun to dig. The Asper is my favourite also, Dendrocalamus asper , yes there is different cultivars , green and a "Hitam black " amongst others Hugely tall but a nice tight clump yielding big shoots that you husk down until you get to the tender bits, chop into thin pieces then simmer for 20 minutes then tip out the water. Then use in stir fry's or however you like. This can then be kept in the refrigerator in brine for a while and use as needed. Bambusa oldhamii is another nice one but the Nastus elatus does spread quite far and the shoots have very little meat on them. Im currently in the long process of trying to get rid of mine !!
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Bamboo
May 15, 2014 3:35:41 GMT -5
Post by mayz on May 15, 2014 3:35:41 GMT -5
Looking into growing bamboo for use in the garden and maybe for use as fencing. Preferably a larger, non-invasive type that won't crowd out the native trees and forever change the ecosystem, any suggestions? Will most species work for those edible bamboo shoots that you find in Chinese food? I already tasted several sp of Phyllostachys and they are very good. In my knowledge all Phyllostachys sp are edible and invasive If you look for a non-invasive sp , Fargesia sp are fine (I have a R rufa in my garden) but need cool and humid weather
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