When we moved to Dark Creek Farm thirteen years ago, one of the first things we planted was bamboo. Since then we've been experimenting with different varieties and have used our bamboo poles as garden stakes, fencing, supports for row covers, and treehouse railings. We've recently started to harvest and eat our bamboo shoots and can't wait for spring for a fresh crop.
There are many varieties of bamboo, plenty of which grow well even in most climate zones in Canada. If you're looking for some general information about various bamboo varieties check out this pocket guide:
Interested in making flutes? Have a look at this bamboo flute-making website.
We've cooked with bamboo shoots, those that arrive in our kitchen via a tin, for years. But it's only recently that we've started experimenting with harvesting and eating our own. Here's a link to some bamboo recipes. This one sounds really good: Stir-fried Mushrooms with Bamboo Shoots Click here for the recipe. If you try any of these recipes, let me know how they turned out. And, if you already have a favourite recipe, pass it along and I'll post it here on the blog.
If you're the kind of cook who needs to know the nutritional value of anything you consume, here's some information about bamboo shoots.
Still looking for more bamboo info? Try these links:
Bamboo World - in Chilliwack
Golden bamboo
For the adventurous, a Thai recipe
Brochure (pdf) - Preparing and eating bamboo shoots
Interested in making things with bamboo? Have a look at this book:
Missed the segment live? No problem - give Amanda at the CBC a day or two and then check the All Points West website for a link to the archived segment.
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Hi, thanks for all the bamboo resources. We had once considered growing some bamboo in our backyard to serve as a natural barrier so we would have to look at a neighbor's junk! But we haven't gotten around to it yet, and since then I've heard that some bamboo varieties spread like crazy. Have you had bamboo control issues?
ReplyDeleteIt's true that some of the running bamboo varieties can travel! There are a couple of ways around this. You can try one of the clumping varieties - they tend to be much easier to control. You can also try planting in large containers. Installing an underground barrier around the outside limits of your grove (check out the bambooworld.com website for more details of how to do this and what material to use) will keep even the most vigourous varieties contained. If you angle the barrier out slightly, the spreading rhizomes hit the barrier and then start growing up, making them easy to spot and get rid of. Regular annual maintenance, which involves going around the perimeter of the grove and pruning the rhizomes before they emerge from the ground (sharp spade, dig a little trench, hack off whatever you find lurking underground) keeps the bamboo from spreading.
ReplyDeleteWhen we planted our bamboo, we used several different types of underground barrier, some more effective than others. The tin sheeting was great but the heavy duty pond liner wasn't strong enough. We have the luxury of space, so it isn't as big a deal as if you are working in tight quarters, but I love the stuff and would grow it again even if I had less room. We've tried several varieties here (a clumping, variegated bamboo with broad leaves - sorry, I can't remember what it's called! - was great in planters at either end of a bench - the golden bamboo is glorious around the pond, our black bamboo - planted in a buried tub -- has been very well-behaved - and our timber bamboo is in its first year, still getting established). Bamboo is evergreen and perfect as a privacy screen. Good luck and let me know how it goes, if you decide to put some in!