Growing Bamboo shoots on a large scale

[tallgrass]

I'm looking to plant about a half acre or more of Phy. Dulcis for shoot production. I have about 500 sq.ft. in a tight grove that will be my plant stock, and 50 pots of young plants from Rhizome, good soil, water, and growing conditions. Does anybody have any ideas or suggestions? Even in this age of computers there isn't all that much info out there

[Akumanubis]

Hi tallgrass,

I would recommend reading "Farming Bamboo" by Daphne Lewis and Carol Miles.

It is the only book I have seen (in english) that discusses large scale farming of bamboo for both shoot or pole production.

It also has good information on the success of various phyllostachys used for shoot production in the pacific northwest.

[thumper]

Another book you can check out is "The Bamboo Handbook" by Durnford Dart. The book's subtitle is "The Farmers, Growers & Product Developers Guide"

Good luck

[Daphne Lewis]

Hello Tallgrass, In addition to my book "Farming Bamboo", I have a web site www.bamboofarmingusa.com. I am posting my research there. Daphne Lewis

[BamaBamboo]

Love the Website, Daphne.....Love the Dogs Too!!!

[spiros]

"Farming Bamboo" by Daphne Lewis and Carol Miles
is printed on bamboo paper

[tallgrass]

Just returned from an almost 1700 mile road trip, Met with Wade Bennet at Rock Ridge orchard and Cidery in Enumclaw, Wa. Wade was kind enough to show me around his bamboo and then took me to the test groves at WSU. On my way home I even managed a stop at Bamboo Garden in Oregon, WOW lots of bamboo.
We can read volumes about growing Bamboo as a farm crop, But there is no substitute for getting a personal "eyeball". I have a way better idea now of how I want to set up my small farm for shoot production. Not much will happen until this Fall when I will start planting for the new groves.

[meadowyck]

tallgrass

would you care to share what you learned.

I'm in the beginning stages of layout for pole production as well.

Jan

[entm]

I'd love to hear what you learned as well. I just recently picked up, "Farming Bamboo".

I have an old grove of mistreated Golden I am trying to renovate as well as several other recently planted Ph. species.

[tallgrass]

My focus was mainly on grove layout. At WSU the plots/groves are 20 feet square, with a 6 foot pathway all around. I will do mine a little different. The layout will be in rows 15 feet wide and 40 feet long with 15 foot pathways. The narrower rows are to make it easier to access the interior of the groves for thinning and digging shoots. If I find that the pathways are wider than they need to be I can just let the groves grow wider.
Another thing we discussed was what types of Bamboo will perform best in my climate for shoot production. The 4 that I will start with are Phy. Atrovaginata, Dulcis, Vivax Mclure, and regular Vivax . Sometime later I will add Phy. Aureosulcata, Nuda and Rubromarginata. These will give me a shooting season about two and a half months long.
I still have a lot to learn about how much and when to thin the groves, but that I'll have to learn as I go.

[meadowyck]

tallgrass thanks so much for sharing with us.

We are all in a leaning process of layout for most efficent use bamboos.

If you don't mind me asking, but how are you planning to start out? Meaning with the cost of stock (unless you are purchasing in bulk for wholesale?) being so high, are you just purchasing a few plants of each variety and then plant to later divide?

I hope you will continue to share as you make progress.

Jan

[entm]

My focus was mainly on grove layout. At WSU the plots/groves are 20 feet square, with a 6 foot pathway all around. I will do mine a little different. The layout will be in rows 15 feet wide and 40 feet long with 15 foot pathways. The narrower rows are to make it easier to access the interior of the groves for thinning and digging shoots. If I find that the pathways are wider than they need to be I can just let the groves grow wider.
Another thing we discussed was what types of Bamboo will perform best in my climate for shoot production. The 4 that I will start with are Phy. Atrovaginata, Dulcis, Vivax Mclure, and regular Vivax . Sometime later I will add Phy. Aureosulcata, Nuda and Rubromarginata. These will give me a shooting season about two and a half months long.
I still have a lot to learn about how much and when to thin the groves, but that I'll have to learn as I go.

Several questions for you...

Do you have a need for 15 foot pathways? Unless you want to have a two lane road, it seems a waste of space. Are the groves at WSU arranged to demonstrate optimal shoot production, or are they arranged for research purposes? I ask because at a university your spacial arrangement is often dictated by your research and your available space. What does the layout of a bamboo farm in China, Japan, or India look like in comparison?

I currently have Ph. Rubromarginata, Makinoi, Bambusoides, Edulis, Nigra/Henon, Vivax, and Viridis/Robert Young, as well as an abused grove of Aurea. With the exception of the Aurea, these are all small plants and will take years to mature. I have the opportunity to dig some mature Bambusoides this fall and will get the largest plants I can transport. My initial interest in planting these species was for poles for building and crafts. After reading 'Farming Bamboo', it may be more beneficial to one day sell the shoots.

[tallgrass]

meadowyck, The Vivax, Dulcis,and Atrovaginata I have lots of, both potted and in the ground. But where I'm growing them now there isn't enough room to expand the groves to the size needed. Of the Nuda and Rubro I only have a few plants of each and will have to grow them out and divide them. Aureosulcata I only have a couple of plants but I have access to more at a very reasonable price. It will be 2014 when I'll be able to start harvesting from the new groves, by 2016 it should be in full production

entm, Like I said in my last post, If I find I don't need 15 ft. pathway/roadway I can just let the bamboos grow into it from each side. Most bamboo on the outside of a grove tend to lean, This alone will take up some of it. And yes I have lots of room. As I understand it, the groves at WSU are for pole and shoot research. and are all the same size for comparisons. It was my own observation that the pathways were too narrow. I also have a good grove of Bambusoides, but I find the shoots bitter and harder to sell. Having said all this, everything is subject to change when a better idea comes along.

[meadowyck]

Are you growing these for shoot production or poll production? I'm still learning which varieties are best for shoot flavor.

If for shoot production, do you already have wholesale accounts set up? If so how did you do your marketing? Hope you don't mind me asking.

My plan is to first identify those varieties best suited for favor of shoots and purchase starter stock. Do research for what the going price for shoots in my area, (not sure how I'm going to find this info out) Next step is to start talking with local area chiefs about the shoots, see what interest I can stir up. If there is a reasonable amount of interest then move forward, if not then move back to just poll production.

Jan