Castor, botanically known as Ricinus communis, is a herbaceous perennial plant. It can be grown as an annual or perennial, depending on the weather.

USDA Zones — 9 – 11

Propagation Method — Seeds, cuttings

Difficulty — Easy

Soil Type — Neutral

Other names — Castor oil plant, wonder tree, arandi, kege, amanakku, chittamankku, ricin, castorbean, erand, eranda, gandharva hasta, graine de ricin, tangantangan Oil Plant

Native to Eastern Africa and India, the castor plant is world’s most poisonous plant. Still it is grown for various medicinal purposes and as an ornamental plant. It has large attractive foliage, star-shaped thorns and red seed capsules. Planting a castor plant is a great way to add some low-cost tropical touch to your home landscape but you should be aware if you’ve children or pets.

You can grow this plant as an annual in the Department of Agriculture (USDA) hardiness zones plant 2 – 9 and as perennial in USDA Zone 9b and above.

The plant grows rapidly, achieving height of six feet or more in just three months and reaches a maximum height of up to 12 m and is a very invasive plant in places where it is native of.

Conditions for Growing Castor Beans

Castor plant grows quickly and as it is native to tropics, it needs heat and warm temperature to grow, the optimal cultivation temperature is 77 – 86 F (25 – 30 ° C) with a good amount of light.

It is also possible to grow castor oil plant in coastal areas.

Propagation

Growing castor beans plant is possible by seeds. Soak castor seeds in a glass of water for 24 hours before planting. Use filtered or purified water instead of tap water.

Planting Castor Beans

Sow castor seeds 1 inches deep and space the seeds at least 3 feet away. Keep the soil moist and transplant them to bigger pot or in the garden when the two real leaves emerge.

In the garden, space castor plants 3 feet apart. Add some well-rotted compost in the planting hole.

For growing castor beans in a pot, choose a large container and use potting mix or make it yourself by mixing equal parts of soil, perlite, peat and compost.

Requirements for Growing Castor Beans

Soil

The soil has to be rich in organic substance and must be well drained much as it does not tolerate water logging. Castor plant is quite adaptable to many types of soil.

Sun

Castor loves the sun but needs to be sheltered from the prevailing winds because of its height.

Watering

Castor plant prefers the soil to be always slightly moist. In winter, reduce watering and let the soil to dry out between watering spells.

Castor Oil Plant Care

Fertilizer

Fertilize the castor plant once a month with an all-purpose fertilizer. Spread a layer of an inch of aged manure or compost around the base of plant when the buds begin to emerge.

Pruning

Pruning is not necessary for castor plant.

Harvesting

Select the bean pods as they begin to dry on the plant. Either remove the castor plants from the garden with pods or leave them if growing as perennial. Wear garden gloves, long-sleeved shirt and long pants during harvesting castor beans and disposal of plants.

Pests and Diseases

It is not susceptible to any pests or diseases

Tips and Warnings

  • Keep the castor plant away from the reach of children. The toxic called ricin is mainly contained in the seeds but it is also found in castor leaves in low amount.

  • In any case ingestion of any part of castor plant should be avoided.

  • Castor plant can be allergic to some people but it is not poisonous when touched.

  • If you have pets make sure they do not eat the castor seeds or leaves.

  • Emmanuel

  • November 1, 2017 At 4:08 pm

  • Great job, the information here are very details.

  • Reply

  • Kunde

  • January 10, 2018 At 2:18 am

  • How long does it take castor oil plant to produce please?

  • Reply

  • Lawal Sarafa Ademola

  • May 1, 2018 At 10:45 am

  • What can be done ,i have planted about20 hectare of castor recently and the rain stopped for almost one week now and none of them have germinated.

  • Reply

  • Alberto Nsekela

  • February 10, 2019 At 11:53 pm

  • Castor doesn’t need alot water

  • Reply

  • Dayo

  • April 4, 2020 At 4:20 pm

  • We provide effective, low cost irrigation for crops in West Africa. Kindly add me on WhatsApp: +2348065938427 for details.

  • Reply

  • Raji Olubukola

  • May 15, 2018 At 5:22 pm

  • Good day all, please, where can I get castle seed for planting and also when is the best time to plant castor seed.

  • Many thanks.

  • Reply

  • Mrs j white

  • May 19, 2018 At 1:32 pm

  • Do you take the black berries of castor oil plant

  • Reply

  • Olawale florence

  • June 6, 2018 At 9:42 am

  • Good day.please where can I get seed to plant for castor oil?

  • Reply

  • Raheem Akinsanya

  • October 17, 2018 At 9:42 am

  • How and where can I get castor seed?

  • Reply

  • meaza

  • December 28, 2020 At 2:34 pm

  • i have castor oil seed

  • Reply

  • Alberto Nsekela

  • February 10, 2019 At 11:51 pm

  • Hi my name is Alberto am new in this I just I want to know if I finish the harvest of castor oil I have to remove all the plants and start again or leave them they will grow again

  • Reply

  • Dr.Jaywant Vikram Shah.

  • February 12, 2019 At 11:10 am

  • With due respect I would like to learn more about Castor oil plant(in detail). Please let me know everything about it(morphology,chemical composition,uses and benefits of every part,cultivation,care,harvesting,the uses of every part and method-procedures,uses in medicines,uses in cosmetics,uses in soaps and shampoo,uses as lubricants and various industries etc.)including required machines as wel-for factory too. Your’s sincerely-Dr.J.V.Shah.+977 9849154703.Pipara,Vaangangaa municipality-2,Kapilvastu,Nepal.

  • D

  • Reply

  • mazhande Dorcas

  • March 29, 2019 At 12:10 pm

  • where is the market for the castor beans and whom do I contact

  • Reply

  • Dosan

  • April 9, 2019 At 2:27 pm

  • I am a castor seed farmer with over 20 hecrares. For more information about castor seed from land selection to oil processing ,you can add me on whatsapp +2347032165844

  • Reply

  • Musa

  • July 16, 2019 At 2:11 pm

  • This is an excellent article

  • Reply

  • charles Mono

  • July 30, 2019 At 12:52 pm

  • Hi please help with as much information as iam very much intrested in castor oil farming and please share information on were to sell the castor beans when harvested including the prices and the quality required thanks

  • Reply

  • Ishaq Ibrahim dogara

  • October 1, 2019 At 6:36 pm

  • Very nice information about growing castor plants, but how can I get the seed or seedlings

  • Reply

  • Helene Bowen

  • July 5, 2020 At 4:39 am

  • Do deer eat the plants

  • Reply

  • Giwa Abdulafeez

  • July 13, 2020 At 11:18 pm

  • Pls call me on 08030661458.Do u want Indian brown or Brazilian white castor seeds.

  • Reply

  • Agboola Falua

  • October 22, 2020 At 10:29 pm

  • What about the marketing?

  • How much is 1 kilo or 1 tone?

  • How can I be linked up with buyers?

  • Reply

  • Oladeji Adesiyan

  • December 25, 2020 At 12:03 am

  • I do love and highly interested in Castor Oil plant cultivation, kindly add me to the group my WhatsApp number is 08060927221

  • Reply

  • Raymond Peter Speelman

  • April 30, 2021 At 1:14 am

  • I am interested in farming with castor seeds.I need to know where the market is and if it is possible to export the beans from South Africa to markets on the African continent.Lastly if someone can advise me as to the value of the beans per ton.

  • thank you in advance.

  • my contact number is +27 844674427 (also for whatsApp)

  • Reply

  • John chileshe

  • May 26, 2021 At 5:31 pm

  • I like the link, please add my name

  • Reply

  • Yerima Hamajoda

  • November 13, 2021 At 11:59 am

  • Hi guys

  • Thanks for the very informative information.

  • I will to have seeds . Share with existing farmers and want to be farmers.

  • I am ving talks with some big buyers and ready to share the volumes .

  • Guys when sharing your contact details add country code .

  • Whatsapp contact : +27 73 117 8911

  • Yerima

  • Reply

  • John Craig

  • October 29, 2022 At 4:19 am

  • Nice writeup. Could I be added to group forum please

  • Reply

Great job, the information here are very details.

How long does it take castor oil plant to produce please?

  • Alberto Nsekela
  • February 10, 2019 At 11:53 pm
  • Castor doesn’t need alot water
  • Reply
  • Dayo
  • April 4, 2020 At 4:20 pm
  • We provide effective, low cost irrigation for crops in West Africa. Kindly add me on WhatsApp: +2348065938427 for details.
  • Reply

What can be done ,i have planted about20 hectare of castor recently and the rain stopped for almost one week now and none of them have germinated.

Castor doesn’t need alot water

We provide effective, low cost irrigation for crops in West Africa. Kindly add me on WhatsApp: +2348065938427 for details.

Good day all, please, where can I get castle seed for planting and also when is the best time to plant castor seed. Many thanks.

Do you take the black berries of castor oil plant

Good day.please where can I get seed to plant for castor oil?

  • meaza
  • December 28, 2020 At 2:34 pm
  • i have castor oil seed
  • Reply

How and where can I get castor seed?

i have castor oil seed

Hi my name is Alberto am new in this I just I want to know if I finish the harvest of castor oil I have to remove all the plants and start again or leave them they will grow again

With due respect I would like to learn more about Castor oil plant(in detail). Please let me know everything about it(morphology,chemical composition,uses and benefits of every part,cultivation,care,harvesting,the uses of every part and method-procedures,uses in medicines,uses in cosmetics,uses in soaps and shampoo,uses as lubricants and various industries etc.)including required machines as wel-for factory too. Your’s sincerely-Dr.J.V.Shah.+977 9849154703.Pipara,Vaangangaa municipality-2,Kapilvastu,Nepal. D

where is the market for the castor beans and whom do I contact

I am a castor seed farmer with over 20 hecrares. For more information about castor seed from land selection to oil processing ,you can add me on whatsapp +2347032165844

This is an excellent article

Hi please help with as much information as iam very much intrested in castor oil farming and please share information on were to sell the castor beans when harvested including the prices and the quality required thanks

Very nice information about growing castor plants, but how can I get the seed or seedlings

Do deer eat the plants

Pls call me on 08030661458.Do u want Indian brown or Brazilian white castor seeds.

What about the marketing? How much is 1 kilo or 1 tone? How can I be linked up with buyers?

I do love and highly interested in Castor Oil plant cultivation, kindly add me to the group my WhatsApp number is 08060927221

I am interested in farming with castor seeds.I need to know where the market is and if it is possible to export the beans from South Africa to markets on the African continent.Lastly if someone can advise me as to the value of the beans per ton. thank you in advance.

my contact number is +27 844674427 (also for whatsApp)

I like the link, please add my name

Hi guys Thanks for the very informative information. I will to have seeds . Share with existing farmers and want to be farmers. I am ving talks with some big buyers and ready to share the volumes . Guys when sharing your contact details add country code . Whatsapp contact : +27 73 117 8911 Yerima

Nice writeup. Could I be added to group forum please

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