How to Grow a Cocoa Bean Plant
Cocoa beans are the main ingredient in chocolate. They grow in pod clusters on the branches and trunks of cocoa trees. These trees have multicolored leaves until they reach maturity, at which time their leaves become a dark leafy green. The cocoa pods grow all over the tree and can be maroon upon ripening. These plants are very difficult to grow, requiring constant care and attention from the farmers or growers. When the cocoa beans grow to maturity, they are harvested and shipped all over the world. Cocoa trees only grow in areas close to the equator. In fact, they are only known to grow within 15 degrees of the equator. To grow cocoa beans, you must cultivate the tree in a warm, moist, sheltered environment. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Choose a warm, moist, sheltered environment for the tree. Usually coconut, banana and plantain trees are used as shade cover for cocoa trees. The cocoa tree needs to be protected from direct sunlight and harsh winds. Do not over-expose to sunlight, this will kill the tree.
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Plant the tree in soil that contains larger particles to make room for the tree's root system. Choose a well-draining soil. If you are planting the tree outdoors, amend the soil as necessary to make sure there is good drainage at least one and a half meters deep. When digging a hole for the cocoa tree, make two different piles of soil, one from the top half, and one from the bottom half of the hole. When the tree is situated in the hole, cover with the top soil first, and then the bottom soil.
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Keep the temperature above 65 degrees F. The cocoa tree cannot thrive in temperatures below 65 degrees F.
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Water the tree several times a day if there is no rainfall. Do not drown, there should not be standing water around the tree. The cocoa tree needs about 80 inches of water annually, and the tree can stand to be waterlogged for short periods of time.
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Fertilizer may be applied twice a year, once in April, and once in September, but most cocoa farmers don't use it. It should not touch the tree, but should be spread out about one meter from the tree. If the fertilizer touches the trunk, leaves, or branches, it can burn the tree.
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