Theobroma Cacao Trees!!!!!

[CacaoGuy]

These are my two Chocolate trees. I also have about 80 more seedlings that are about to sprout. More pictures coming soon!

What do you all think of my trees?

[PalmatierMeg]

I like them. But aren't they extremely cold-sensitive? Where do you live? I'd love to try one but I suspect even a mild winter here will send them to tree heaven.

[CacaoGuy]

I like them. But aren't they extremely cold-sensitive? Where do you live? I'd love to try one but I suspect even a mild winter here will send them to tree heaven.

Yes they are extremely sensitive to cold climate and low humidity. But I live on the Southern Georgia coast where it usually stays pretty hot and humid. Ill have to pull them in for the winter thats for sure. I think the coldest it usually gets here is like high 40's. But so far they are thriving well. It took them like a week to get over shipping shock but after that they really took off. Hopefully if the conditions are right within the next few years ill have me some caco pods. Ill keep you informed of my seedlings if your interested in one.

[Donald Sanders]

I have been interested in Theobroma Cacao for over 25 years. Here on the Big Island of Hawaii it is a relatively new crop. Hershey started experimenting growing it here in the 80's. We get a large yield per acre and most likely in the future it will be more lucrative here and we'll see more of it. I have grown several trees and they are not hard to grow here.

May I recommend to you the most interesting book I have read about Theobroma Cacao. THE CHOCOLATE TREE A Natural History of Cacao by Allem M. Young published by Smithsonian Institution Press 1994

I am sorry that I can not give you any insight to it's prime growing conditions regarding cold sensitivity. On the Hilo side of this island it is very much plentiful at sea level. Here on the Kona side it is grown in the coffee belt at altitudes that seldom see temps below 60. It drys out easy, I had a tree defoliate from drought but it came back quickly with irrigation.

Good luck, remember that there is magic in the beans.

Aloha, Don

[aussiearoids]

A great e-book to download is Food of the Gods by Brandon Head , a very old book [ 1903 ] put out by Project Gutenberg .

[palmmermaid]

I haven't heard about Project Gutenberg. Sounds like a really good use for e-books. Saving old and out of print books that are still great reads.

[Mandrew968]

I like them. But aren't they extremely cold-sensitive? Where do you live? I'd love to try one but I suspect even a mild winter here will send them to tree heaven.

Yes they are extremely sensitive to cold climate and low humidity. But I live on the Southern Georgia coast where it usually stays pretty hot and humid. Ill have to pull them in for the winter thats for sure. I think the coldest it usually gets here is like high 40's. But so far they are thriving well. It took them like a week to get over shipping shock but after that they really took off. Hopefully if the conditions are right within the next few years ill have me some caco pods. Ill keep you informed of my seedlings if your interested in one.

High 40's for the Southern coast of Georgia? I find that hard to believe... Welcome to Palmtalk--Nice Chocolate trees!

[Cindy Adair]

I also enjoy growing these trees. Cacao pods are legal (if declared)to transport as baggage from Puerto Rico to the U.S. Usually most every seed germinates quickly so I get 25-40 trees on average per pod (which you can order online). Your trees look happy and healthy. I grew my first one ordered from Florida bare root about 20 years ago. I didn't have a greenhouse then and just had it eventually under a sky light and outside when it was over 50 degrees. Since it's a shade tree anyway, everyone can grow this tree inside. However, once it hits the ceiling, then you need a greenhouse and then you end up with a farm in Puerto Rico with producing trees (and discover tropical palms and IPS and Palmtalk) and then you plant the seeds and....

Try growing a vanilla vine up a larger tree and adding a small strawberry plant at the base just to cover the three most common ice cream flavors-I've done it. Children still expect chocolate bars to hang from the branches... Enjoy your trees!

[CacaoGuy]

I also enjoy growing these trees. Cacao pods are legal (if declared)to transport as baggage from Puerto Rico to the U.S. Usually most every seed germinates quickly so I get 25-40 trees on average per pod (which you can order online). Your trees look happy and healthy. I grew my first one ordered from Florida bare root about 20 years ago. I didn't have a greenhouse then and just had it eventually under a sky light and outside when it was over 50 degrees. Since it's a shade tree anyway, everyone can grow this tree inside. However, once it hits the ceiling, then you need a greenhouse and then you end up with a farm in Puerto Rico with producing trees (and discover tropical palms and IPS and Palmtalk) and then you plant the seeds and....

Try growing a vanilla vine up a larger tree and adding a small strawberry plant at the base just to cover the three most common ice cream flavors-I've done it. Children still expect chocolate bars to hang from the branches... Enjoy your trees!

My trees are flourishing and growing like crazy!! Almost every seedling sprouted. Ill post pictures here in a few minutes

[CacaoGuy]

heres a picture of the growth