PalmsNorth.com

Posted: **Tue Dec 16, 2008 3:37 pm**

This is an interesting plant. Both sides of the leaves and stems have spines, also produces an edible fruit.
Some more info. here: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57815/

A forum member was kind enough to send me seed

They are quite small,

After an overnight heated soak, they had all swelled up & sank. They were planted, and the first to show just 3 days later.

Steve

Posted: **Thu Dec 18, 2008 4:48 pm**

These have cool flowers, remind me of the Castor Bean plant

http://www.floragran.com/images/amaranthus.jpg

What a treat to not wait months and months for germination!

Barb

Posted: **Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:29 pm**

Here are a few pics of my bed of nails plants. Sorry about the out of focus one. My camera is a cheapo. The seedlings are about 5 weeks old. They are slow to start but once they get going, look out! They really take off. They seem to like a LOT of nitrogen, too. They start to yellow quickly if they are not fed. The larger plants are from a few years ago. Not sure how old they are in the pic. A couple months I'd guess. Oh, they like a lot of light, too. The larger ones were growing under a 400W metal halide.

Posted: **Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:35 am**

Barb,
It's a treat to see immediate results. I try to start a lot going into the winter, will have something germinating every week or two till spring

Patrick,
Thanks for the photos, I hope mine do as well as yours!

Steve

Posted: **Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:48 pm**

I'm sure they will, Steve.

Posted: **Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:27 am**

I would say about 90% of these have germinated now

Steve

Posted: **Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:08 am**

Great germination rate.
Delicate looking things.
Barb

Posted: **Fri Jun 25, 2010 8:05 am**

Some newer photos,

Steve

Posted: **Sat Jun 26, 2010 5:37 am**

they look at bit dangerous to me. kind of like a snake, you need to keep your eye on them all the time when you are walking around them.

Posted: **Wed Jun 30, 2010 11:52 am**

Hi Kent, I missed your reply, not a good idea to be treading on the fallen leaves with bare feet either

Just noticed some fruit has set on them

Steve

Posted: **Thu Jul 01, 2010 9:52 am**

indubidubly

Posted: **Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:02 am**

A little larger now

Steve

Posted: **Sat Jul 24, 2010 11:59 am**

Quite the growth rate...

Hope they don't naturalize ... flat tires all over Kansas

Barb

Posted: **Fri Feb 25, 2011 10:15 am**

Was more interested in collecting seed, so I let the fruits over ripen till they dropped.

Been collecting plenty of seed over the winter

Steve

Posted: **Fri Feb 25, 2011 3:38 pm**

Steve

Very cool plant, I have never seen that one before.

Paul

Posted: **Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:55 pm**

Fabulous photo Steve!
Cool plant indeed.

Posted: **Sat Feb 26, 2011 7:38 am**

Thanks Barb!

Paul, I have some extra seed if you want try it, just send me a PM.

Steve

Posted: **Tue Mar 01, 2011 6:07 am**

Those are badass.......

Posted: **Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:00 am**

Got 'em Steve, thanks!

Might just put 'em out on the patio next to the outlaws this summer

Posted: **Tue Apr 05, 2011 3:32 pm**

Seedlings are growing - Thanks Steve! They look like tomato seedlings right now.
Paul

Posted: **Tue Apr 05, 2011 4:03 pm**

Paul,
Good!
I've had to postpone starting these this year.

Because of the wedding here this Sept., we're even ripping out pyracantha because of the thorns!
There'll be lots of little kids running around.

Will try it next year.
Barb

PalmsNorth.com

Solanum quitoense ~ Bed of Nails ~ Quito Orange

Solanum quitoense ~ Bed of Nails ~ Quito Orange