Here's the specs: I have a very nice plot of ground that has been a vegetable garden in past seasons. We have moved our main veggie garden further south on our property. The garden plot in question runs east to west, measures about 6' wide and 30' long. It is full sun most of the day but towards evening the trees to the west casts a shadow over 2/3's of it.

Arriving early next week are 5 rufa plants in 1-gallon pots. Some days later I plan to take delivery of 2 aureosulcata Aureocaulis, both 1-gallon pots. At some point this year I would like to add a third bamboo variety, but I have no immediate variety in mind.

My initial plans are to plant the rufa at one end of the garden in a circle fashion (however big the 6' will allow me). The aureocaulis can be planted at the other end, spaced a few feet apart (distance unknown). In middle I can still plants a few stray flowers or tomato/pepper plants, at least until the bamboo get bigger.

I initially wanted to plant the rufa as a hedge but after some thought I would rather have more of a grove.

Any thoughts or suggestions on this?? I welcome any imput.

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Regards,

steve-in-kville

Edit to the above...

Would it be benefitial to plant the bamboo in line, but on the northern edge of the garden? Then plant my extra veggie plants in front (at least until the bamboo take over the space)?

Just a thought.

_________________
Regards,

steve-in-kville

6' is a good width -- but 30' may fill up quite fast. My rufa is about 3' wide at the base, but 7' or more in spread (about 5' tall) after 5 years. Rufa culms lean way out when they leaf up.

Personally I'd plant only a single Ph. aureosulcata 'Aureocaulis'... if you break up the 30' into 6' sections, that's five 6'x6' planting areas. One Rufa on each end, then split the other three areas between two different runners? So Rufa, runner, runner, Rufa. Or maybe Rufa, runner, Rufa, runner, Rufa? I'm just trying to think ahead so you don't end up with overly crowded plants. (Maybe you realize, but planting two runners together may fill in faster, but if your goal is size you don't want two plants competing with each other). You'll need to rhizome prune to keep the runner rhizomes from spreading into the rufa and each other.

Make sense?

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Alan.
My blog: It's not work, it's gardening!

Don't forget to factor in height/shade creation from tall plants in an E/W bed, you may want to put the aureocaulis on the far East end for that reason unless you want to create a shady end that can happen in the acaulis is on the West or center.

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Brad Salmon, zone 5b/6 Southern Indiana
Winters -20 to -25C. Summers 30 to 35C , humid. 115 cm annual precipitation, frost free from May through early October. 259.3 meters elevation. Growing 150+ species. http://www.needmorebamboo.com/

Okay, I had to read that post a few times over until I understood what your getting with shade... makes sense now.

I think what I may do (at least until I change my mind) is plant the rufa on the very west end, the aureocaulis on the east side and then use the space for veggies until I decide on another 'boo to start. I gotta get these two in the ground before I get too carried away!

_________________
Regards,

steve-in-kville