How to Plant Vanilla in a Home Garden

Vanilla plants produce vanilla beans or pods that contain flavorful, fragrant seeds and pulp.

Vanilla plants are vines that produce the vanilla bean pods filled with vanilla seeds many people use in the kitchen for recipes. Vanilla beans are also commonly used for the production of vanilla extract. Vanilla plants belong to the orchid family and are is native to tropical conditions, so growing one at home will require the gardener to meet a few specialized growing conditions to produce a healthy, productive vanilla plant.

Things You'll Need

• Garden shade netting
• Vanilla plant
• Shovel
• Large bucket
• Leafmold or peat moss
• Trellis
• Misting nozzle
• Garden hose
• Urea-free, 20-10-20 fertilizer

Instructions

1. Choose a location outdoors where the vanilla plant will receive morning sun and bright, indirect afternoon sun. East-facing locations are ideal for this type of light. If you are unable to grow the vanilla plant on the east side of the home, choose a spot receiving partial to full sun. Secure garden shade netting above the vanilla plant location so the plant is not receiving direct sunlight. Normally, within their native climates and habitats, vanilla plants grow among the understory of the forest. The understory area of the forest is the section under the canopies of the trees.

2. Purchase a vanilla plant online at a reputable vanilla, tropical or orchid plant supplier. Many vanilla plant suppliers will ship their developed vanilla plants in 3- to 6-inch containers.

3. Dig a planting hole 12 inches wide and 12 inches in depth with a shovel. Place the removed dirt into a large bucket, and add 1/4 to 1/2 ratio of compost such as leafmold or peat moss to the bucket. Mix the dirt and compost together with the shovel until the mixture becomes incorporated and evenly distributed.

4. Pour the contents of the bucket back into the hole, filling it 3/4 of the way full. Remove the vanilla plant from its container and place it on top of the soil. Fill the planting hole all the way full with the mixed dirt until the base of the vanilla plant's stem is at soil level.

5. Insert a trellis or other support structure into the ground at least six inches and behind the vanilla plant to provide the plant with room to grow and spread.

6. Provide regular twice per week watering for the growing vanilla plant. Water the vanilla plant with enough water to keep the soil moist.

7. Connect a misting nozzle to the garden hose and spray the growing vine tendrils of the vanilla plant with a light misting of water at least once per week. This weekly misting of the vanilla vines will produce higher humidity levels, which can help to mimic the native growing conditions.

8. Dilute 1/8 teaspoon of urea-free, 20-10-20 fertilizer with water according to the package instructions. Add this fertilizer feeding to the vanilla plant every time you water.

9. Prune the stem tips of the growing vanilla plant with pruning shears as it reaches three years in age. Proper pruning of the vanilla plant will encourage the growth of flower production. When the flowers die back, the developing vanilla bean it begin to grow.

10. Pollinate the open flower buds by hand in the mornings. Pull the interior rostellum or flap up with a toothpick to expose the anther and stigma. Use another toothpick to push the anther against the lower stigma gently to create self-pollination.

Tips & Warnings

• Vanilla plants are also available as cuttings, but when you purchase a vanilla cutting, you will have to take several steps in order for the cutting to develop roots so it can be planted in a pot or in the ground.

• Vanilla plants require nighttime temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If your location receives colder temperatures, grow the vanilla plant in a temperature-controlled greenhouse.

• Instead of securing garden shade netting above the vanilla plant, grow the vanilla in a location that is in afternoon shade provided by large trees.

References

• Orchid Flower: Vanilla Orchid
• Top Tropicals: Vanilla planifolia, Vanilla fragrans