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How To Grow Bamboo
By Polly Hamilton
How to grow bamboo:
Bamboo is a very versatile plant, and there are two facts about bamboo that not many people know! You can eat the leaves (it's not just for panda bears) and it's actually a type of grass! Bamboo tastes crisp and light (it's mostly water) with a slightly sweet after taste. It goes wonderfully with a lot of Asian foods, and compliments other flavors, rather than detracting from them. You can eat some varieties raw, but most need to have toxins boiled out of them. Most people equate bamboo with Asia, its place of origin, but it is a hardy plant and can grow in many climates. They are also several varieties of bamboo and they vary in height from 6 inches to over 130 feet! Some even grow an inconceivable a foot a day. Bamboo is scientifically classified by its root structure, which is as varied as its height. Bamboo is an attractive and useful plant, and easy to grow in your backyard (as long as you can prevent it from spreading too far)!
How to grow bamboo: choosing a variety
There are thought to be over 1500 varieties, and over 1500 documented uses of bamboo. It's a popular plant! And be careful when you buy your plant: there is one ‘bamboo' plant called Dracaena which is not actually a bamboo, but looks unrecognizably similar. There are so many varieities to choose from, some for tropical and some for temperate environments, it's easy to find the right variety for your weather. You will also want to find out our quickly your bamboo grows before you buy the most prolific variety to put next to your coffee table.
How to grow bamboo: planting
Planting is very straight-forward, but be gentle. Plant a large enough hole to fit all the roots and plonk it in, water straight away. You can plant from halfway through spring until 4-6 weeks before winter (depending on how cold your autumn is).
How to grow bamboo: watering
Remember that bamboo is a grass, and won't grow in damp conditions just like your lawn doesn't grow when it's covered in puddles. They really like air circulation as well, so if you have a small potted variety raise the pot so there is room to put your hand underneath. Air will circulate round and help your bamboo really thrive. Do not let your plant dry out though, and fertilize 3 times a year with high nitrogen fertilizer.
How to grow bamboo: growth
A bamboo plant won't actually begin the phenomenal growth it's famous for at least 3 years after planting. If you don't want runner bamboos to spread, there are two simple options. Plant near water, they won't grow in it or on it. You can also place some non-decomposing plastic vertically around the bamboo, giving enough room for it to establish it's self, but give it a parameter. This plastic needs to go about 30cm deep (deeper in warmer climates).
How to grow bamboo: what it represents
Bamboo symbolizes long life, versatility and strength in many cultures, such as China. It is a very strange plant with many uses. You can grow it for aesthetics, privacy, shelter, or to harvest and build things with! Bamboo is a wonderful plant to learn how to grow in your backyard.
See Also:
More info on how to grow bamboo
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