How to Grow Cacao Beans

Cacao pods hold the cacao beans used for cocoa and chocolate.

Cacao beans grow on the small evergreen cacao plant, which thrives in tropical regions such as Central and South America, Africa and Asia. All chocolate and cocoa products consumed and used in the world come from the cacao beans growing on the cacao plant. Growing cacao plants can be quite challenging if certain conditions are not met. The cacao plant needs tropical conditions, such as warm temperatures that stay above 68 degrees Fahrenheit, to grow properly.

Things You'll Need

• Self-compatible cacao plant
• Shovel
• Good-quality top soil with added compost
• Watering can
• Wood chips
• 6-6-6-2 fertilizer
• Sharp pruning shears
• Sharp knife

Instructions

1. Obtain a small, self-compatible cacao plant from a tropical plant nursery. Self-compatible cacao plants do not require another cacao plant for proper pollination.

2. Select a southerly, outside location that receives partial shade. According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension, cacao plants can successfully grow under tall trees at least 10 feet to 20 feet away from the trunk, where the overhanging limbs will provide partial shade. If planted in deep shade, the cacao plant will not be productive.

3. Dig a hole that is three times deeper and wider than the cacao plant's root ball. Fill the hole with good-quality top soil with compost added in. Sit the cacao plant on top of the top soil, and pour more soil into the hole until the root ball is covered and the top level of soil is even with the remaining soil line.

4. Tamp down the soil with your hands. Use a watering can with a slow, gentle drip to water the cacao plant until the soil is moist, but not saturated.

5. Spread a 3-inch layer of wood chips around the cacao plant, leaving an 8-inch space around the plant from the stem base to the wood chips. The wood chips will prevent competing weeds from growing and will retain much-needed moisture within the soil.

6. Water the cacao plant regularly to maintain moist soil, reducing the amount of water you use in the cooler winter months.

7. Fertilize young cacao plants with a fertilizer solution of 6-6-6-2 every two to three weeks, as stated on the package instructions, reducing the fertilizer applications during the winter months. Increase the ratio of fertilizer as the cacao plant grows bigger, according to the package directions.

8. Prune the cacao plant with sharp pruning shears as it reaches 1 foot to 2 feet in height. Cut back extra branches, leaving only four main branches to grow. Maintain the cacao plant by pruning away all dead or damaged branches.

9. Clip the cacao bean pods off the cacao plant when they are yellow or red in color, with the pruning shears. Open the pods with a sharp knife and extract the cacao beans.

Tips & Warnings

• Grow cacao plants in a greenhouse in areas where temperatures drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Cocoa

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish