Arundo Donax

I've seen Arundo Donax mentioned briefly in an earlier thread. I am thinking of trying to grow it to harvest the cane. Has anyone any experience of growing this variety? I believe it is semi tropical so may not be very happy in windy North Wales. I've read that it can be very invasive and fast growing, am I mad to even consider it? :rolleyes:

 

Hello terrier.

It grow wild here ... up to 30 feet in height and half that in spread ... seriously wild!

It grows in Central Spain where the temps at the moment in Madrid have been running at -1C at noon.

Unless you try it in a pot, you would be totally out of your mind. :D

 

I grow it unfenced in the garden as it hates the cold and will not spread very far in our UK climate. Frost kills most of the upper ground canes which are then removed once new canes appear in late spring. If you want to harvest canes you will have more success with miscanthus sacchariflorus, which produces excellent and abundant canes. Although they are a little brittle compared to bamboo. I harvest mine and let them dry for a good few months and then they are pretty good. There is no substitute for bamboo in the strength and flexibility stakes !

 

I've got some that someone gave me in late summer but this is it's first winter with me Terrier. Actually I had forgotten about it but I will check it out tomorrow in the light and let you know how it is. Actually now I remember it I am quite interested. I think I should move some into the g. house if it's still OK.

 

Thanks for that LOL and BM. the reason I was asking specifically about this type of cane is for a supply of material to make musical instrument reeds. The cane needs to be tough and flexible and Arundo Donax is one of the main plants used. If I can keep the plant under control I was going to have a go, even if I have to grow it in a large pot, although I have plenty of room to grow it. Any info on where I can get hold of some and when I need to plant it out, etc, will be useful.

 

I'm gonna have to get some of this aswell, I think.
I saw it growing last summer and thought it looked good.

 

Just checked mine and it is still looking good after a couple of light frosts, I think we have had it pretty mild so far here. Thank goodness the g.house is now usable (if not quite finished) so I have dug it up and put it in a large pot in there. If it goes mad over summer I will see if anyone on GC still wants some. Don't hold your breath though.

 

Iv'e got arundo donax moved it from back garden to front in the summer, it's still doing ok even after the frosts. It does die down though and comes back in the spring.

 

Do you get any decent sized canes from it or does it not ripen well in our climate?

 

canes get to about 6ft in the back garden, but cos I moved it they only managed 4ft but it was late in the summer.

 

Arundo Donax Vivax, the green one, is hardy in the UK, and you can get it from www.turn-it-tropical.co.uk

It isn't that quick growing here, so a swift visit to SE Spain with a small pruning saw might pay dividends. It grows everywhere.

Nik

 

Thanx Nic, I fancy the idea of a trip to spain with an alterior motive and a sharp knife. I can buy the cane in sections of approx 12cm x 25mm. Thats the diameter I would be looking for. It costs about �£1.50 a piece, so runs a bit expensive for practicing on. If there was any chance of growing quality cane in this country (North Wales) I'd have a go and I think it would look nice in a sheltered corner of my garden. The reason I want to try and make reeds myself is that a ready made one costs about �£50.00

 

I've had an Arundo Donax Vivax for just over 2 years, and one of the canes is nearly 20mm dia. So it wouldn't take too long to produce the size you need. They do get tall though, 10' plus, so the sheltered corner needs to suit.

Meanwhile, all the way down the N332 coast road from Alicante to Mar Menor is lined with the stuff growing wild. I cut 8' wind break poles from it, and bring home short pieces to replace the charred handles on BBQ grids. The saw blade on a genuine swiss army knife works a treat.

You can get subsidised 4 day property viewing trips out there very cheaply. Just be a bit sales resistant, and a returning suitcase full of half price Gordons Gin and a few lengths of bamboo would more than cover the outlay.

Nik

 

Nik, how naughty!

The cane is a nightmare here, like Spain but probably worse because we are not as hot and dry and they are.

Lidl had Gordons for 9 Euros over Christmas (�£6.30) for 70cl. Normal (if there is such a thing) gin here is 5 Euros (�£3.50).

Bamboo is too long to put in the suitcase unless you want short lengths. :D

 

"Nik, how naughty!"

Lol, I was only trying to help a starving musician.

Arundo does like some water, and the cane in Spain grows mainly in ditches etc, so I can believe Portugal is a lot cane friendlier.

We came back from a week in the hacienda last night, having found Gordons finest 47.3% alc Gin at ââ??¬12.55(Ã?£8.80) per litre in plastic bottles, just like the old days of duty free on the plane. 15 of them saved more than the cost of the flights. We both like a large G&T before dinner, so are OK for a few weeks.

Nik