What are Tonkin canes and why are they indispensable in your garden?

What is a Tonkin cane?

In many places, but especially in tree nurseries, you often hear the term “Tonkin canes” being used, but what kind of canes are those? Tonkin canes are actually just bamboo canes. These canes were given the name Tonkin canes because the first Tonkin canes came from the Tonkin region. Tonkin canes are relatively thin but strong bamboo canes, making them extremely suitable as a plant stake or guide pole.

What is the origin of Tonkin canes?

It was in the Tonkin region of North Vietnam that these straight and strong bamboo canes were first found and harvested to be used as, for example, stakes for plants or as a plant trainer to guide the branches of a tree. Today, a large portion of bamboo canes comes from Southern China. These natural canes often come from Guangdong, a densely populated province in Southern China with Guangzhou as its capital. This region has a humid and subtropical climate, which are the perfect conditions for growing Tonkin canes. The Tonkin canes grow on mountain slopes in this area and are harvested by hand once they have fully matured into sturdy bamboo canes.

The journey of Tonkin canes

As mentioned earlier in this blog, Tonkin canes grow on the steep mountain slopes of Guangdong. Here, the Tonkin canes are still harvested manually by growers using a machete. In the past, Tonkin canes were harvested across the entire mountain slope, which led to significant erosion and the washing away of loam soils. Nowadays, about 8 to 10 bamboo shoots are left standing per square meter to prevent this. The side shoots of the Tonkin canes are cut off and left on the mountainside. These cut side shoots (organic material) then help to prevent erosion. The bamboo shoots are then dragged down the slopes and collected. This is extremely heavy work, especially because it can rain heavily during the rainy season. After collection, the canes are taken to a trader where they are weighed and paid for. At the traders, the bamboo canes are checked for straightness and quality, and the bamboo canes are placed in a rotating drum filled with a mixture of sawdust, sand, and water to clean them. After this, the Tonkin canes are set to dry in a pyramid shape; this process takes about 5 to 7 working days. When the Tonkin canes get a lot of sun, the color of the bamboo becomes increasingly yellow. After this process, the bamboo canes are checked for quality and thickness.

Bamboo canes for training trees

Do you have a beautiful espalier tree, but are the bamboo canes that guide the branches of the tree in need of replacement? Our bamboo canes are extremely suitable for this purpose. In combination with our binding tube, you can easily assemble an espalier frame for trees yourself.

Bamboo canes in the garden

Bamboo canes are also ideal for use in your garden. These canes are often used as plant stakes to support a plant. Think of supporting climbing plants and heavy plants such as dahlias. The plant or tree is often attached to a Tonkin cane using binding tube.

Bamboo canes for a vegetable garden

At Masters of Bamboo, we have bamboo canes for the vegetable garden in various sizes and diameters. Bamboo canes are a sustainable solution for, for example, supporting bean plants or tomato plants.

Below you will find a guideline for canes that you need in the vegetable garden:

• 50cm high: For lettuce, basil, bell peppers, short tomatoes, and young plants, we recommend up to 50cm high
• 50-120cm: Bamboo canes for tomatoes, bell peppers, and eggplants
• 1.5-2.5m: Bamboo canes for runner beans, peas, cucumbers, climbing zucchini

Tonkin canes for private or business customers

At Masters of Bamboo, you benefit from large stocks and a wide assortment. The Tonkin canes are available individually or in small or large bundles. Thanks to our direct import, we guarantee competitive prices and fast delivery to both companies and private individuals. Would you like to pick up your Tonkin canes? That is possible; you are more than welcome at our bamboo showroom in Beverwijk. Need large or small quantities of bamboo canes? At Masters of Bamboo, you are assured of quality, service, and convenience.