Bamboo leaves as food....

[ErnieBerley]

You try - and strap yourself down on the throne?

um...... NOT !! lol . What I have is black bamboo and they love it... Phyllostachys nigra....the bamboo in the SE ASIA study was different species, and i'm sure very warm growing.

 

[azygous]

Perhaps this thread will yield the cold hardy edible species names as more people in colder growing zones join the discussion.

A thread is like a growing child - you never know how it will turn out as it gets older.

 

[ErnieBerley]

Perhaps this thread will yield the cold hardy edible species names as more people in colder growing zones join the discussion.

A thread is like a growing child - you never know how it will turn out as it gets older.

it's my first time ever dealing with blogs....and it's GREAT

 

[Fairview01]

And in a year from now those who have planted bamboo will be asking how to get rid of it. Sadly most times the answer is you cant once it's established.

 

[Melodychick]

And in a year from now those who have planted bamboo will be asking how to get rid of it. Sadly most times the answer is you cant once it's established.

Years ago my neighbors planted some bamboo next to my pasture fence. I panicked thinking it would take over my pasture, but years later it hasn’t because the horses eat the shoots as they come up! Meanwhile it has spread quite a bit on their side of the fence, and regular mowing to keep it in the bed is required. I had a dwarf clumping bamboo in a pot that I got tired of taking care of, so I planted it in the chicken yard. They love eating the leaves, so it’s usually just bare stems now. I may get some more of the clumping variety now that I’ve read it’s so good for them!

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I have about 10 different varieties of bamboo and I've never seen them be interested. But then they can't reach it and I've never thought they might like it. What do you do? Just cut some and leave it on the ground for them?

Years ago my first group of chickens used to love to hang out down in the bamboo patch, but since it was close to the road a dog found them, and they never went back.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

And in a year from now those who have planted bamboo will be asking how to get rid of it. Sadly most times the answer is you cant once it's established.

It's pretty easy to get rid of as long as you devote the time to knock over the shoots when they come up. Once it gets down to being a foot or so tall you can spray it with roundup.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I wish it would grow at 7500 feet and could survive long freezing winters.

Some bamboos are good down to -20F: bissetii, yellow groove (aureasulcata). Mulch heavily and they might make it. Even if the tops die back, they will probably come back in the spring. The nice thing about cold climates is that they will moderate spreading bamboos' growth.

 

[azygous]

Some bamboos are good down to -20F: bissetii, yellow groove (aureasulcata). Mulch heavily and they might make it. Even if the tops die back, they will probably come back in the spring. The nice thing about cold climates is that they will moderate spreading bamboos' growth.

I looked it up and it doesn't mention if the culms are edible or not. That would be the whole point of growing it, not just as an ornamental.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Both are edible. Nuda is another edible variety cold hardy to -20F. What zone are you?