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sandy0225 · 09-17-2009, 06:52 AM

Here's the scoop on my Yellow Groove bamboo in Muncie, Indiana (zone 5)...You could put that Yellow groove bamboo in the -25 degree F catagory on your list. Not all of the culms died back last winter, only about 1/10 of them did. I'd definitely put it as hardy in zone 5. I did mulch it with 4" of leaves the first year, but nothing after that.
Also it seems to be pretty drought tolerant once it's established. We had some very dry weather last year in July, August and September and it did fine. We haven't had any measureable rain this month, and while the leaves roll up during the day slightly,meaning it's getting thirsty, they are ok by morning. If it is rolled up in the morning, then it's time for water.
Definitely a runner, even in this zone. Mine has spread to about 10 feet wide x 40 feet long. I'm getting ready to trench around it to keep it from going further. I don't think you'd need a trench 30" deep though. When you go to dig any runners that have gone too far, they're usually only about 6" deep at the most. The tallest culm we've had so far was 20' tall, but most of these are 12-15' tall at our grove in the center, and shorter around the edges. They are easy to strip out with the skid loader! Not so much fun by hand...
The culms that die back over winter are great for little construction projects around the house like stakes, trellis and bean poles. The largest diameter culms we've had so far have been 7/8 inch in diameter. If I actually took any kind of care of it and fertilized and watered it, it might be bigger in diameter.
It's mostly evergreen here, that means it stays green usually around to Christmas, then we start getting lots of wind with -0 temperatures and that causes the leaves to brown to a blonde color and then in the spring they fall off and the culms push out new leaves.
So it's self mulching.
We have been getting some zigzag of the culms near the bottom, but that is mostly because we get a lot of wind here in the spring and when the new shoots come up they are tender and easily damaged by wind or things walking through them. At a certain point about 3 feet tall, they can take more wind as they become more fibrous and tough. Before that point, I'm sure you could twist and bend them with a little wire and grow them into weird shapes, something I hope sometime in spring I have time to try.
The man I got this bamboo from said it wouldn't live if transplanted in the fall, but I put it out in late October and didn't loose any, not even one plant. I also had previously purchased some on ebay for $2 for a one cane division with a very small root system, which is supposed to be a big no no, and while it didn't grow much for about 4 years, it never did die and actually has taken off now like the others.
That's been my bamboo experience so far...

09-17-2009, 06:52 AM	#86 (permalink)
sandy0225 Northern Tropics sandy0225's Photo Gallery Location: Muncie, Indiana zone 5 Find me on the map! Zone: zone 5 Name: Sandy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,718 BananaBucks : 362,775 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: A guide to Bamboo Here's the scoop on my Yellow Groove bamboo in Muncie, Indiana (zone 5)...You could put that Yellow groove bamboo in the -25 degree F catagory on your list. Not all of the culms died back last winter, only about 1/10 of them did. I'd definitely put it as hardy in zone 5. I did mulch it with 4" of leaves the first year, but nothing after that. Also it seems to be pretty drought tolerant once it's established. We had some very dry weather last year in July, August and September and it did fine. We haven't had any measureable rain this month, and while the leaves roll up during the day slightly,meaning it's getting thirsty, they are ok by morning. If it is rolled up in the morning, then it's time for water. Definitely a runner, even in this zone. Mine has spread to about 10 feet wide x 40 feet long. I'm getting ready to trench around it to keep it from going further. I don't think you'd need a trench 30" deep though. When you go to dig any runners that have gone too far, they're usually only about 6" deep at the most. The tallest culm we've had so far was 20' tall, but most of these are 12-15' tall at our grove in the center, and shorter around the edges. They are easy to strip out with the skid loader! Not so much fun by hand... The culms that die back over winter are great for little construction projects around the house like stakes, trellis and bean poles. The largest diameter culms we've had so far have been 7/8 inch in diameter. If I actually took any kind of care of it and fertilized and watered it, it might be bigger in diameter. It's mostly evergreen here, that means it stays green usually around to Christmas, then we start getting lots of wind with -0 temperatures and that causes the leaves to brown to a blonde color and then in the spring they fall off and the culms push out new leaves. So it's self mulching. We have been getting some zigzag of the culms near the bottom, but that is mostly because we get a lot of wind here in the spring and when the new shoots come up they are tender and easily damaged by wind or things walking through them. At a certain point about 3 feet tall, they can take more wind as they become more fibrous and tough. Before that point, I'm sure you could twist and bend them with a little wire and grow them into weird shapes, something I hope sometime in spring I have time to try. The man I got this bamboo from said it wouldn't live if transplanted in the fall, but I put it out in late October and didn't loose any, not even one plant. I also had previously purchased some on ebay for $2 for a one cane division with a very small root system, which is supposed to be a big no no, and while it didn't grow much for about 4 years, it never did die and actually has taken off now like the others. That's been my bamboo experience so far... __________________ Sandy Burrell Northern Tropics Greenhouse 1501 East Fuson Road Muncie, IN 47302 www.northerntropics.com specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~ check out our new online store at our website!