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Devany - I didn't want to hijack the other thread so I start this one.
Quote from Devany: We have three of their vanilla vines and they are ready to produce in the spring. The pepper vine has already had a small crop and we are looking forward to it growing and giving us more peppers.
How long have you had your vanilla? Did you trim your vanilla back? I have had mine for three years. I am hoping that it will produce in the spring.
Pepper vine: Is the vine somewhat invasive or can you train it on a fence? How old is your pepper vine?
Jade
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Jade I thought vanilla came from an orchid plant not a vine. Is this something new a vanilla vine?
It seems I've seen photos of greenhouses on the BI where vanilla is produced.
mella l
mella l
Art and Science
bytheSEA
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Mella - the Vanilla plant is an orchid but it typically does best "vining" around a tree so it gets dappled sun and gentle watering. (that is what I was told by the vanilla guy in Hamakua and I am following his directions and mine is doing well and should make a flower soon! - I hope!)
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Do you know how long it takes before vanilla flowers?
Yes it is an orchid but it grows like a vine. I have mine growning on an ohia log under shade cloth. Similar to what commercial growers use.
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According to the Hawaii Vanilla guy it takes about 5 years to flower, one afternoon flowering, in which you must pollinate it, then 18 mos of waiting for the mature vanilla bean
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Thanks Carey [
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Jade,
Our vines were in 5 gallon containers, about 4 years old when we got them last november and are quite large. Mell a they are a vine and have an orchid like flower which must be hand pollinated. One of ours is about 20' up into the bamboo and two are on 10' trellises and have dropped down and been re-trained up and down again twice. One is variegated and two are solid green The solid green ones are more vigorous. They take 5 years to flower from the time they are a cutting. Tom Sharkey has several that have flowered and fruited within two years of planting. He got about 50 beans off of 5 vines this year. It does take hand pollination and there is a short window of time, I think it is only a matter of an hour or so. You really need to be observant and be there to do the pollination once the flowers have fully opened. Also, once the vanilla bean has developed harvested it also needs to go through a curing process before it can be used. Mine are in sun 3/4 of the day and doing really well, but they are generally an understory planting. Most commercial growers keep them in a lath house where they can be grown at a height that makes pollination easier. It is maintained by training over supports, not by trimming. Once the vine has flowered and fruited in the spring you can take cuttings if you want.
The pepper vine is actually slow growing and not invasive, but can be contained in a large pot. Mine is in the ground full sun with a tripod support. Our vine was also bought last November and was about 5 years old then. The Allspice, Cinnamon and Nutmeg trees are also thriving here on the ocean. The clove tree had some issues with salt air when first planted but it is doing really well now.
Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany
www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com
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I've had a number of vanilla plants for just over three years. This last April I got a few flowers and managed to pollinate some so now I have three beans that should be ready to pick soon--after about 6 months on the vine. Then it gets processed for another extended period.
I was considering a larger vanilla operation but it is so much work I'll let it go with what I have.
When pollinating, I found I needed to do it between 8:00 am and 11:00 am.
One thing Hamakua Vanilla told me is that you need to stress the plants (in February, I believe) by trimming or withholding water to get optimal flowers.
Jerry
Art and Orchids B&B
http://www.artandorchids.com
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I still get excited every time I discover something else cool that can be grown there! Vanilla beans!! Well this is a family forum so I will just say I got very excited ;-)
-Blake
http://www.theboysgreatescape.blogspot.com/
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Jerry are your plants under cover of some type and do they grow on a trellis? What a cool plant to share with your guests! Kind of like where does milk come from for people who grew up in the city!
mella l
mella l
Art and Science
bytheSEA
