From seed-to-tree: How we grow cacao, the main ingredient for chocolate.
Each cacao pod contains 30 to 60 cacao beans depending on the variety. Beans size, shape and color will vary widely.The cacao seeds are planted in a 14 inch tall grow tube. Kept moist and not in any direct sun. Remember, cacao loves shade.After about two weeks the seed will sprout and form new leaves.2 month old cacao seedlings in a shaded nursery. The seedlings are very delicate and would get fried in full sun.At around 6 months the stem should be as thick as a pencil. The tree is now ready to be planted (or grafted).The cacao seedling is planted in a deep hole with soil amendments. The tree should be well watered and kept moist for the first week until established. Trees can be planted as close as 6 feet, but we recommend 13 feet spacing to allow space for other taller trees in between. You can fit anywhere between 400 to 1000 cacao trees per acre depending on the spacing, road ways and access paths, shade trees and wind breaks planted.A cage constructed with steel wire and shade cloth (30% woven) protects the seedling from the sun and the wind and especially the rose beetles. Adding a thick layer of mulch keeps the weeds out and holds the moisture in.The cage is secured in place using three long weed mat staples.Without the protection of the cage the delicate cacao tree will not survive. If the tree drops all of its leaves after planting that’s a bad sign.Should you plant your cacao tree in a low wind and partially shaded environment the use of a cage may not be necessary.Cages are mostly to protect your trees from the Chinese rose beetle (Adoretus sinicus). Here we have one devouring a plum tree. The rose beetles will eat everything! The leaves of a young cacao tree can be devoured in one night. The beetles are clumsy flyers and are not agile enough to find the caged trees.Ants might start farming aphids on your delicate young cacao trees. You can squish them without damaging the new growth or spray them off with a jet of water using a hose. You can avoid this problem by keeping the ant population under control.The cacao tree will eventually outgrow the cage and you’ll start to see some rose beetle damage on the leaves. Don’t worry it will survive.At one point the tree will form a jorquette. This is when the main vertical stem fans out into multiple branches. This structure is maintained so that the tree will have a nice structure to it.During the first four years of cacao establishment we make the most use of our limited space to grow other food crops such as white pineapple, kalo, olena, and plantains.As the tree gets older the effects of the rose beetle damage is minimal. The tree is old enough to recover from the damage and the uneaten parts of the leaves are still able to photosynthesize.When the tree is about 3 to 4 years old the leaves are much bigger and leathery. The rose beetle might still nibble on it but it isn’t their favorite food any more.4 years after planting, the cacao tree may develop its first flowers. Cacao trees are cauliflorous, meaning the flowers and fruits grow directly on the trunks of the tree. Unfortunately it is very rare for a young tree at this stage to produce a single full sized fruit.1.5 to 2 month old cacao pods
Cacao pods may come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Some are bumpy and have lines in them and some are smooth. Generally speaking when a pod starts to turn from green to yellow OR red to orange that is a sign that the pods are ready to harvest. Another way to check is to lightly scratch the cacao pod’s skin and if it is still green then it is not ready to pick.
