Hello from Newfoundland

[bamboonewf]

I am new to bamboo having 'discovered' it last fall but am wasting no time in building a collection. I have 19 different cultivars in the ground and 2 more on the way, and those I am growing from seed.

I planted a one gallon P. aureosulcata 'Aureocaulis' last fall and it over-wintered just fine, is now 8" tall but has put out one shoot that is 38'' when measured yesterday and has only been growing for a few weeks. Is this normal? (Picture attached). I hope so or maybe with any luck it just likes it here!

We are considered a USDA zone 6, our soil is on the acidic side and there is no lack of moisture.

This is a great web site, I love all the pictures.

[Mark Meckes]

Hi bamboonewf, and welculm!
Nice to hear about your 'discovery' and adventures with bamboo in Newfoundland. You must be living in a 'fringe' zone where the winters don't get quite as cold as other northern parts of Canada.

BTW Your pics didn't get processed. Did you click upload? Or was it a very large MB pic?
You can try again:
Manage Attachment (below message text box) > Choose File > Upload >
Wait till it shows that it has been processed.
After uploading you can click 'Preview Post' and you should see the attachment(s), then finally click Submit Reply.

Cheers,
Mark

[bamboonewf]

I guess the picture was too big...oops. I will also work on a better one .

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/761/thumbs/p-aureosulcata-aureocaulis.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=4372&cat=761&ppuser=2521)

Newfoundland's climate is a surprise to a lot of people, we have warmer winters than most of Canada, with the exception of southern BC. St. John's is ranked third warmest city in Canada. We are in a very warm part of NL and grow lots of things we are told we can't grow. I have 53 varieties of grapes growing, planted the first ones 5 years ago, now it's time for bamboo!

I do have a web site but have not added the bamboo to it just yet, it does however give an idea of our climate and there are pictures of our area. If it's ok to post it then go to http://www.dccw.ca Climate data is under the growing grapes in Gambo page.

[Mark Meckes]

Hi, that's great that you have found a nook in the north where you can grow bamboo!
Your Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Aureocaulis appears to be really enjoying it's spot and has exceeded it's previous growth, which is a very good sign.
Do you have a list of the species you're growing?

Mark

[bamboonewf]

Species I have growing are:

Shibatea kumasaca
Sasa palmata
Sasa veitchi
Pleioblastus pygmaeus
Pleioblastus elagantissima
Pleioblastus shiboyanus 'Tsuboi'
Fargesia murielae
Fargesia nitida (from seed)
Fargesia dracocephala 'Rufa'
Indocalamus tessellatus
P. atrovaginata
P. aureosulcata
P. aureosulcata alata
P. aureosulcata 'Aureocaulis'
P. aureosulcata 'Spectabilis'
P. bissetii
P. mannii 'Decora'
P. heteroclada (from seed)
P. humilis
P. edulis (1 one gallon, rest from seed)
P. nigra
P. nigra 'Henon'
P. nuda
P rubromarginata
P. vivax
P. vivax 'Aureocaulis'
Pseudosasa japonica
Pseudosasa japonica ‘Tsutsumiana’

I will see how these do before adding more. Or at least that's what I should do!

[Mark Meckes]

Hi, thanks for posting the pics!
It really is a joy to see your bamboo beginning their life at their new home and I wish them all the best!

FYI A gallery has been started for you at Bamboo Flora and I can assist in the next day or so to place your pics in their respective category and crosslink them with your list. Eventually I can show you the ropes on uploading to the gallery. ... I should also mention that we will soon be working on some added improvements to the gallery.
Meanwhile you can upload more pics of your collection in a new post here as you see fit
It's very good that you are including the species name with the jpg filename, or you would be providing me with a great challenge to ID you boos. ;)

Cheers,
Mark