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Ricinus Communis 'Carmencita' safe or not?

ValleysgirlValleysgirl Posts: 344
in Problem solving
After watching Carol on Gardeners World planting her seeds for her 'Firey colours' bit of her garden in Devon I have wanted to grow some in our Garden . It's fair good size but we're Gardening on a slope with about 6 tiers ending with our decking area at the top , husband cut all the conifers down there, ( view is amazing over the valley)  I can get away with The height of Ricinus and could squeeze quite a few in ! So having seen I could get some on line my dilemma is Always has been are they SAFE as we have lots of neighbours cats roaming around, see my thinking , they say their poisonous ! your thoughts please.

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I've grown them and there are still millions of cats around. 
    Devon.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I believe Carol has terriers ... if they’re not affected I would think that cats will be fine ... terriers are far more likely to chew on ricinus seeds (which is where the poison is) than cats are, in my experience. 

    Lots of gardens have these plants and some cats roam everywhere ... they seem to survive. I would plant them and wouldn’t be concerned 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ValleysgirlValleysgirl Posts: 344
    So as we speak I'm just ordering the seeds on-line, now I can plan out my garden where they will look best, Many thanks to you both for your answers to my problem your experience is appreciated, will post pictures come 'Summertime '
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Valleys girl said:
    So as we speak I'm just ordering the seeds on-line, now I can plan out my garden where they will look best, Many thanks to you both for your answers to my problem your experience is appreciated, will post pictures come 'Summertime '
    Don't be too tempted to sow them early. I've found early sowing don't grow into such good plants and often run to flower early.
    Devon.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I don't sow mine until April, as they are not at all hardy and can't go outside till June, where i am.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I had 2 in the polytunnel which didn't make it into the garden: they're still growing
    Devon.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Well, you are in the tropics, @Hostafan1. Not like the barbaric North.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    Hostafan1 said:
    I've grown them and there are still millions of cats around. 

    Too bad. ;)
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    punkdoc said:
    Well, you are in the tropics, @Hostafan1. Not like the barbaric North.
    So you would think Punkdoc,  it’s cold, windy and wet where we live,    my Ricinus only grew to about 2 - 3’ if that,  as you say, can’t put them out until end of May at least.
    i don’t know how they would fare in Wales. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • ValleysgirlValleysgirl Posts: 344
    Their on the order and like Punkdoc says will wait till mid March to sow them, I'm putting a selection of my own seeds saved from last year in the propagator tomorrow - Maltese Cross ( red and a new pink ) verbena bonariensis, blue/white Acquiliqua, a few pepper seeds and Dianthus Cruentus enough to get going . I will give them a go anyway here in South Wales no matter what the weather as they say .
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