Whole plant
Overall shape, height, branching and growth habit.
Other
Bamboo growing guide
Bambusa spp.
A fast-growing woody grass forming tall jointed culms. Choose clumping species for gardens, as running types spread aggressively and are very hard to remove. Young shoots of several species are edible once cooked.
Fruits in 2–3 yrsFull sun150 cm apartHardy to frostPerennial
21-60 daysGermination
730-1095 daysHarvest
150 cmSpacing
5 cmSow depth
FullSun
HardyFrost
3 cm/weekWater
5.5-7pH
Planting calendar by climate
When to sow, plant out and harvest in each climate. Plotera turns this into reminders for your own garden, location and planting dates.
JFMAMJJASOND
Tropical
Subtropical
Mediterranean
Temperate
Cool
Arid
SowPlant outHarvest
Show as a table
| Climate | Sow | Transplant / Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical | Jan - Dec | Jan - Dec | Jan - Dec |
| Subtropical | Mar - May | Mar - May | Sep - Dec |
| Mediterranean | Mar - May | Mar - May | Sep - Dec |
| Temperate | Mar - May | Mar - May | Oct - Dec |
| Cool | Sep - Nov | Sep - Nov | Nov - Jan |
| Arid | Mar - May | Mar - May | Sep - Dec |
Botanical reference
Leaf detail
Leaf shape, edges, colour and vein pattern.
Flower detail
Flower colour, structure and where blooms appear.
Harvest / detail
Fruit, root, seed, pod or the strongest identifying feature.
Cooking and eating ideas
A quick garden-to-table guide for using Bamboo after harvest.
Raw / fresh
Not eaten raw. Raw shoots of many species contain cyanogenic compounds and must be cooked first.
Cooked
Slice shoots thinly and boil in a change or two of water before stir-frying, braising or adding to curries and soups.
Store / preserve
Use fresh, freeze, dry, pickle, or preserve depending on the crop.
Good companions
No companion data yet.
Avoid near
No avoid list yet.
Growing note
Plant clumping varieties only, unless you can install a root barrier. Harvest culms from the third year, taking the oldest first. Edible shoots must be sliced and boiled before eating.
Turn garden notes into a living plan.
Create a free account to save your garden layout, personal planting calendar, water and fertiliser schedules, seed inventory and harvest logs.
Create Free Account