Growing Cacao

[OrchidIslander]

I am having a terrible time with my attempts to grow Cacao. I've given them too much sun and not enough sun. Too much water and not enough water. It seems they are delicate and temperamental. Of course, its the plants fault! I can't keep the young plants alive long enough to eventually get them into the ground. I know they are a under story tree, but the proper way to grow them in Hawaii, (I'm HPP) so far, escapes me. If anyone has any advice or knowledge about this interesting and delectable plant; I would appreciate it.

Thanks

Mike in HPP

[james weatherford]

@ 6th/Makuu HPP we planted several cacao before getting a few to live.

Afternoon shade from tall bananas is where they are thriving now.

The direct sun and heat definitely seemed a problem.

James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[Kelena]

End Kaloli Point. Two chocolate trees planted in July. One struggling the other thriving with absolutely no care, other than a hand-sprinkled parting blessing of fertilizer granules. These are in dappled sunlight most of the day. The one that isn't doing as well is more exposed. Both are planted in the decayed stump of a tree.

[Andrew]

Growing Cacao may be a great idea. I found an article that chocolate may be very rare in as few as 20 years because of declining production in the world.

Article Title:

Will Chocolate Become The New Caviar?

Link:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010...new-caviar

Excerpt:

John Mason, executive director and founder of the Ghana-based Nature Conservation Research Council, has forecast that shortages in bulk production (of cocoa) in Africa will have a devastating effect: "In 20 years chocolate will be like caviar. It will become so rare and so expensive that the average Joe just won't be able to afford it."

[dobanion]

Tempting crop. Gourmet "Estate" chocolate might be a nice home buisness.

You want it in shade, lots of rain, and lower elevation. Hate to say it, but the filtered light of an Albizia canopy is perfect for it, and the nitrogen fixing would fertilize it.

So perhaps those lots covered in Albizia are worth something after all?

[Rene Siracusa]

Albizia? Think again. Once your albizia are big enough to shade your cacao they will start dropping their humongous limbs and crushing your young trees. They will be a hazard to anyone on the property trying to harvest the cacao or keeping the weeds (albizia seedlings) down. Albizias fix more nitrogen than most other plants can handle - it would be like taking an overdose of vitamins: too much of a good thing. And your neighbors would be justified in their anger, once your trees started falling on their homes or causing them eradication costs and effort. And you would have a monopoly on the resulting liability.

I sure hope your post was facetious....

[james weatherford]

Plenty better alternatives for shade and nitrogen fixation.

Those big limbs up there?
They call 'em "widow makers" for a reason.



James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[dobanion]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rene Siracusa
I sure hope your post was facetious....

---

Yeah, mostly. But hey, wouldn't it be great if we could actually use those scary beast trees for something?

I did read a article about Albizias being deliberately planted, but in drier areas than Puna. Seems that with 50" of rainfall, they don't turn into scary beasts. It's the 150" of Puna rain that makes them nuts.

[Radiopeg]

[quote]Originally posted by Andrew

Will Chocolate Become The New Caviar?

Link:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010...new-caviar

I hope not. Starting a few plants is something I am looking forward to doing on our lot. I am only an amateur gardener. I couldn't grow enough to keep me in chocolate bars.

Life goes on, with you or without you.

[asly]

So what's the highest elevation cacoa can be grown sucessfully at?

Enjoy the day! Ann