Did you harden it off first by exposing it to a little sun and then a little more over a period of several days? If not, that may be as much a problem as transplant shcok. And then, if you disturbed the roots during transplanting, it wouldn't like that either. Typically, annuals don't like transplanting, so it's a good idea to dig up a big chunk of soil with the roots, gently set them in the ground without breaking the rootball, and water instantly.

Irregardless, your next move is the same. Try to give the plant some shade somehow. Perhaps a cardboard box placed around it, but still open to the sky, would suffice. Give it shade for a few days until it seems to be recovering, then gradually remove the box for a few hours at a time over a few days. Needless to say, keep it well watered and mulched. With a bit of luck, it should recover and be fine.

My red caster bean did great in the shade, never getting much direct sun light. Here in Texas the seem to do better with some shade rather than the full sun. They become fuller and not so rangy. They are slow growing from seed but we enjoy the leaves the most anyway. Have to pick the seed pods before they explode or I will end up with them all over.

It's doing ok now. One of the true leaf though is devastated. The other one is healthy.

How come, I was told that castor beans are really fast growers but my tallest is only 8 or 10 inches? I direct sowed them all May 8. I also direct sow sunflowers last May 24 and they are not 2 ft tall. The castor beans gets more than 8 hours of continues sunlight.

Thanks!

sorry....I just saw it now

"I also direct sow sunflowers last May 24 and they are not 2 ft tall."

should be

"I also direct sowed sunflowers last May 24 and they are now 2 ft tall."

Hey folks, how do you edit a post you previously posted?

Thanks!

Are you aware that there are many varieties of castor beans? Perhaps the one you planted is a smaller variety? Also, since these are tropicals, perhaps your weather is not hot enough to induce very fast growth. These are just guesses.

Oh no, I wasn't aware that there are many varieties! Today, we reached 95F. Is that ok enough for them to have faster
growth?

Thanks!