HOW TO GROW CASTOR BEAN FROM SEEDS

HOW TO GROW CASTOR BEAN FROM SEEDS

1. Soak castor bean seeds: The first step for successfully germinating castor plant seeds is to soak them in warm water before sowing. Soak castor seeds for about 24 hours before planting. After soaking the seeds, it will look like one end has popped out – this is normal. To give your castor bean plant seeds even more of a boost, try soaking them in diluted organic fish emulsion, liquid kelp or compost tea.

2. Choose the right container: It’s a good idea to plant castor bean plant seeds in a deep container, unless you plan to transplant them shortly after they start to grow. Once castor plant seeds have germinated, the seedlings grow very quickly. It only takes a few days for the seedlings to outgrow seed starting trays. You could start castor bean seeds directly in plantable peat pots to make transplanting them to the garden a snap. If you prefer to use something more sustainable than peat, try coco coir or cow pots instead. Otherwise, plastic seedling pots are perfect (and reusable).

How To Plant Castor Bean Seeds Step-By-Step

1.     Fill your container will a high quality seed starting medium, or you could use large peat pellets instead

2.     Drain the water from the seeds

3.     Make a hole in the dirt to the proper depth (castor bean seeds should be planted 1″ to 1 1/2″ deep) and drop a castor plant seed into the hole (It doesn’t matter which side is up, castor plant seedlings will find their way to the top)

4.     Bury each castor bean seed with soil and gently press it down, but don’t pack the soil tightly over them

5.     Cover the containers with plastic wrap or put them into a large plastic bin with the lid closed to keep the soil moist during germination

6.     Keep the soil evenly moist, but don’t allow it to get soggy. Soggy soil can cause castor bean seeds to rot

Germinating Castor Bean Seeds

It can take a long time to germinate castor bean seeds, so be patient. The typical germination rate for castor seeds is 10-21 days. I’ve had castor plant seeds take as long as a month before finally sprouting, so don’t panic if it takes longer than what it says on the seed packets. Castor beans need warm soil to germinate, so adding bottom heat using a seedling heat mat will help castor bean seeds germinate much faster, and lower the risk of seed rot.

Caring For Castor Bean Plant Seedlings

Castor plant seedling lighting – After castor bean plant seeds finally sprout, the seedlings grow very fast. As soon as you start to see the seedlings popping up, it’s time to add a grow light. Since they grow so fast, a seedling grow light is a must for growing castor bean seedlings indoors to prevent them from growing weak and leggy. I made my own seed starting grow lights using an inexpensive florescent light fixture and plant grow bulbs, which works great. Make sure the light hangs an inch or two above the seedlings at all times, and keep it on for 14-16 hours per day (use an outlet timer to make it easy to control the lights). Check a few times per day, and adjust the height of the light as the seedlings grow.

Fertilizing castor bean plant seedlings – Once your castor bean plant seedlings grow their first set of true leaves, it’s time to start fertilizing them. I prefer (and highly recommend) using an organic fertilizer like organic fish emulsion or an organic compost solution. You could also buy compost tea bags and brew your own liquid compost fertilizer. Start with a weak half dose, and gradually increase it to full strength over time.

Planting Castor Bean Seedlings Into Your Garden

Before you can plant your castor bean seedlings into the garden, they must to be hardened off to get them ready for life outdoors. Once that’s done, wait to plant them in the garden after all chance of frost is gone and the soil has warmed up. Castor bean plants hate the cold, so it’s best to wait to plant them than risk planting them too early. If the soil or weather is too cold for them, the seedlings could die or their growth could be stunted.

Castor bean plants are fun to grow, and they add gorgeous color and texture to the gardens. But remember, all parts of the castor bean plant, especially the seeds, are poisonous if ingested. If you’re concerned about the toxicity of the seeds, you can cut off the flowers to prevent castor plant seed formation. Keep castor bean plant seeds out of reach of children and pets.