How to Grow Vanilla Beans

Vanilla beans, the origin of vanilla flavor, were first cultivated by Pre-Columbian Mesoamericans. In 1841, hand pollination of the plant was discovered and its cultivation spread across the world. Many people grow vanilla beans indoors at home to obtain their own fresh vanilla. Try using this method to grow vanilla beans that will continue to fruit for years to come.

Things You'll Need

• Vanilla plant cutting with at least one node and leaf
• Sharp knife
• Small plastic container
• Liquid fertilizer
• Planting container
• Potting soil
• Medium plant support
• Non-urea fertilizer
• Q-tips

Instructions

1. Place the end of the vanilla plant cutting under running water. Cut with a sharp knife at a 45 degree angle. Make sure to cut the end that was separated from the original plant, not the top of the cutting.

2. Fill the small plastic container with water. Add two to three drops of liquid fertilizer to the water. Place the cut end of the vanilla cutting into the container.

3. Place the container in a sunny place, such as a window sill. Leave undisturbed for 10 days, or until the root is fully formed. Add more water if some of it evaporates.

4. Fill a medium sized planting container with potting soil. Plant the vanilla cutting, with newly formed root, in the center of the container, about 1 inch deep. Gently pack the dirt around the plant for stability.

5. Place the plant support into the soil beside the vanilla plant to allow the vine to grow upwards. Place the pot in a humid area of the home, such as a bathroom or laundry room, where it gets at least 50 percent sunlight during the day.

6. Water the plant frequently to keep the soil moist. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely between watering. Add ½ teaspoon non-urea fertilizer to the soil once every two weeks.

7. Pollinate the flowers by hand when they appear. Take a Q-tip and brush the pollen from one flower to another, targeting the pistil and stamen. Perform this several times between all the blooming flowers. Vanilla beans will begin to appear in the following weeks, if pollination was successful.

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Tips & Warnings

• An old, clean prescription pill bottle or 35 mm film canister will work well for use in Step 2. However, you can use any small plastic container available to you.

• The ideal environment for the vanilla plant is full morning sun until noon and then light shade throughout the afternoon.

• Remove vanilla beans for processing once they have completely formed and feel firm inside the pod.

• The yield of vanilla beans will increase each year. An established vine may produce up to 1000 flowers per day, and most can be set to pod.

• Sunlight is good for the cutting while the root is forming, but do not allow it to get more than four hours of direct sunlight. This could dry it out or prevent the root from forming.

• Flowers of the vanilla plant only last one day, so pollination should be performed as soon as possible.

• If you do not pollinate the flowers, no vanilla beans will form.