Anyone have experience growing bamboo?
In a new house and I'm looking to cultivate some bamboo for timber and possibly shoots, in addition to looking nice.
Obviously don't want any running species which will be a pain in the ass to control or spread to the neighbour's backyard. My climate is dry-mild-temperate, inland south east Australia, Canberra to be precise. We do get frosts so any tropical varieties are out. Soil is heavy clay but I'll be using clay breaker and adding top soil regardless. Also got some huge water tanks so hopefully water isn't a problem.
So far my research has lead me to Bambusa Oldhamii (pic related). Which is clumping, frost tolerant, grows massive timber worthy culms and has edible shoots.
Some of my information found so far:
Cultivation (Lots of other good info but 90s tier site): http://www.bamboowholesale.com.au/html/cultivation.html
Harvesting Timber (suss moon phase section): http://www.guaduabamboo.com/cultivation/when-and-how-to-harvest-bamboo
Complete Guide for Bamboo (for Kenya): http://theorganicfarmer.org/sites/default/files/Guidelines%20for%20Growing%20Bamboo.pdf
General Info: http://gardeningstepbystep.com/how-to-grow-bamboo/
Might also start looking for books and asking the bamboo nurseries
http://www.bamboogarden.com/care.htm
Grow willow.
>>910692
>Obviously don't want any running species which will be a pain in the ass to control or spread to the neighbour's backyard.
where's your sense of adventure man?
Is it strong like glorious Chinese bamboo? Jackie Chan told me that it is the best, and he would know.
>>910692
Living in the tropics bamboo grows itself.
I chop a piece out of a larger piece. Plant it where I want to. Water it for a week so it catches and then walk away and come back to find a monstrosity.
Also don't think that there is bamboo of any variety that doesn't travel/run.
dont grow bambo if you have any intention to ever use that land for anything else. It is notoriously hard to get rid of and will spread like fire and fuck your shit.
>>910692
Seriously don't grow bamboo. My Chinese parents grew one stick which ended up into shoots sprouting from everywhere. It's impossible to remove and the methods of processing cost way too much/ way too much energy.
>>910692
I know nothing of bamboo
If you are asking about bamboo which needs to be a warm humid climate, have you thought about banana trees?
Shit totally grows in any southern state, and can be done it cold states if you put enough effort in.
I think that shit would be awesome.
>>911581
I live in Georgia, and have Banana trees. They never get big and will never bear fruit. The first hard frost kills them off above ground because they are mostly water.
Bamboo on the other hand grows native everywhere on the planet but antarctica.
>>911616
unless you live in the tropics, it would need to be in a heated greenhouse with artificial lights.
they grow bananas in iceland. using geothemral heat and energy. even with the artificial lights going all the time. I takes a tree two years to make fruit.
Get some free pallets and make large planters. Plant the bamboo above ground and you'll never have to worry about it spreading. Save yourself a huge potential headache.
>>911616
You can grown bananas in the UK, they are just hard to do.
