How to Grow a Castor Bean Plant

The oil from a castor seed does not contain the the same toxins as the rest of the seed.

Castor bean plants (Ricinus communis) grow rapidly and produce striking red flowers. Castor oil comes from the plant's seeds, and people use the oil for medicinal purposes. Before planting a castor bean plant, be aware that parts of the plant and its seeds contain toxic substances that can make people and many animals sick. The castor bean plant grows relatively easily in warm climates, but will die off during a freeze, according to Union County College. Some gardeners treat it as an annual, because its growth over summer is impressive.

Things You'll Need

• Garden space with good drainage
• Compost (optional)
• Tiller
• Water

Instructions

1. Choose an area to plant your castor bean seeds that receives at least six hours of full sun.

2. Till organic matter into the soil if it has poor drainage. Castor bean plants prefer soil with good drainage, according to Purdue University Horticulture. Dig in compost or manure to improve drainage and add nutrients to the soil that help the plants grow.

3. 

   Castor beans will grow quickly if they get plenty of water.

   Moisten the soil before planting. Castor bean seeds should be sown after the final frost date for your area.

4. Plant the seeds 1 to 3 inches deep and at least 8 inches apart. Keep the soil moist, but not soaking wet, until the seeds germinate.

5. Water the plants regularly after germination. Castor bean plants do not like to sit in overly saturated soil, but they do require consistently moist soil to grow well.

Tips & Warnings

• Castor beans can poison people and animals. According to Cornell University, children can die from ingesting just one castor seed.

References

• Union County College: Castor Bean Plant
• Purdue University Horticulture: Castor Beans
• National Gardening Association: Improve Soil Fertility with Compost
• Cornell University: Ricinus communis (Castor bean)