[CornishCol]

May be a long-shot,but does anyone have an idea which cultivars are suitable for allotments,with a view to using dead canes for allotment use?
Space is not an issue, a fast growing cultivar a must,height to around perhaps 3metres of usable cane ? Hopefully over time a clump will pay for itself..........

[SG6]

The black bamboo give decent long canes of some diameter.
Once established they grow well.

Check out:
http://www.bamboosociety.org/uknurseries06.html
http://www.fulbrooke.plus.com/
http://www.gardenhive.com/trees&shrubs/bamboos/for-sale/uk/
http://www.abbotsburyplantsales.co.uk/index.asp
http://www.scottishbamboo.com/index.htm

You will need something that gets to around 8-10 feet as the top end will be thinner and so gets removed.

[Yorkie]

Do you realise just how invasive a "fast growing" bamboo is? 

It can be an absolute nightmare to control or, after a while, to remove.  Completely bombproof!

[fatcat1955]

The umbrella bamboo is good for canes but not in your garden. I KNOW.

[BigPaddy]

Now there's an idea. We have a lot of land which was plots some time back, but floods and has mares tail. I wonder if we put some bamboo in there it would be good.

How invasive?

Paddy

[fatcat1955]

VERY

[Madame Cholet]

would hazel  be less invasive you could use the whips.

[allotmentann]

I am with Rachel on this one! I don't use bamboo canes at all. All my canes are cut from the hazels. The added advantage of the hazel is that you can leave little twiggy bits along the length giving climbers a lot more to grip on to. There is a plot where they have planted bamboo - it is everywhere Hazel - looks beautiful, makes far better canes,won't invade and you get nuts!

[Goosegirl]

There are some non- invasive bamboo species, but probably won't be the ones for the canes you need. DO NOT PLANT BAMBOO unless you have an area the size of Heathrow! I have found some sturdy ones locally, so you will need to look around and find a little nursery that has these. Forget been-and-queued and Wikkos.

[SG6]

For a gardening site it is strange that only Goosegirl seems to be aware of clump forming bamboos that form a clump (surprise, surprise) and are not invasive.

http://www.bamboogarden.com/Hardy%20clumping.htm

A read might be useful, especially the first line that says:

Clumping bamboos can be planted without fear of them spreading beyond their
assigned territory. 

[Yorkie]

With respect, SG6: a) this is primarily a Vegetable growing site; and b) CornishCol said that space was no object and he wanted one that was vigorous.

There's no need for your post to be quite so scathing to your fellow posters 

[compostqueen]

I rummage about in the hedgebottom for suitable supports for my beans etc. Hazel or even your flowering cherry trees will yield good stuff.  I think bamboos look alien in our gardens but that's just me probably 

[allotmentann]

I rummage about in the hedgebottom for suitable supports for my beans etc. Hazel or even your flowering cherry trees will yield good stuff.  I think bamboos look alien in our gardens but that's just me probably 

Me too, which is why I suggested hazel. Like you I use all sorts of prunings for shorter canes, whatever I can find that is sturdy. These canes just fit with everything else at the plot and I love them

[fatcat1955]

Be careful with hazel as like willow it easily takes root if the stem's are not dried first.

[allotmentann]

As long as it comes up easily I don't mind it rooting! The squirrels make sure that I have plenty of little ones to remove! They work so hard burying the nuts - then seem to forget where they put them!