How to Grow Cacao

If you've ever dreamed of having a constant supply of chocolate, consider planting a cacao tree in your back yard. A native of South America, these plants enjoy constant heat and humidity. Gardeners in northern climbs will probably need a greenhouse to successfully grow a cacao tree.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Remove the white mucilage casing that surrounds the seed coat. To do this, place the seed in a bag with a piece of bread for a day to soften. Then, gently agitate the seed with some sand or other rough material. Wash the away the casing.

2. Germinate the seed by keeping it moist, shaded and, most of all, warm. Wait for the radicle to emerge.

3. Plant the radicle in a polyethylene bag that is at least 3 feet wide. Tear them so that they will drain. Space the bags 3 feet apart in their beds.

4. Water the seedlings early in the day, but do not allow the soil to become saturated. Fertilize them as necessary and apply insecticide. Allow the seedlings to grow for at least six months before you transplant them.

5. Prepare a plot for your cacao seedling, at least 13 square feet and well shaded. The soil does not need too much preparation. Just make sure there's plenty of organic material and fertilizer for the tree to grow on. You don't need to till the land around the tree.

6. Prune the young tree when its first branch is at least 5 feet high. From then, allow five or six branches to grow. Use a handsaw to remove all but the strongest two or three.

7. Harvest the cacao pod about five months after it begins to set. When it is ready to be picked, the color of the pod will lighten; when tapped, you can hear a hollow sound. Take a sharp knife and cut it off the stem. Crush the pod with a heavy, blunt object to collect the cacao seed.