Theobroma cacao (Cacao tree)
Moderators: Laaz, lucky1, Alchris, Kansas, Wes North Van
-
- Large Palm
- Posts: 1269
- Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2008 8:30 am
- Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Theobroma cacao (Cacao tree)
I received some Theobroma cacao pods today. The pods contain seeds (cacao beans), the same ones that are baked/ground up and made into chocolate. I tried germinating Theobroma seeds once before, but I think I kept them too damp and too cold. It's very important that the seeds are fresh, as they lose viability VERY quickly!
Pods:
Cut open, showing the seeds and the pulp that surrounds them:
Seeds from 3 pods:
After around 2 HOURS!!! of cleaning the pulp off the seeds, I ended up with about 35 good ones:
Put in for germination:
Cameron.
Pods:
Cut open, showing the seeds and the pulp that surrounds them:
Seeds from 3 pods:
After around 2 HOURS!!! of cleaning the pulp off the seeds, I ended up with about 35 good ones:
Put in for germination:
Cameron.
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71601.gif" alt="Click for Shearwater, Nova Scotia Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
very cool Cameron.....let us know when they germinate!
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/MA/Seeko ... igwx"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... eekonk.gif" alt="Click for Seekonk, Massachusetts Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
-
- Large Palm
- Posts: 1269
- Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2008 8:30 am
- Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
I will!
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71601.gif" alt="Click for Shearwater, Nova Scotia Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
-
- Arctic Palm Plantation
- Posts: 11325
- Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
- Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)
Holy cow, Cameron, are you sure you have SPACE for a few more seeds in your house?
Family's probably moved into the yard tent by now...
Good luck with them.
They do look kinda yucky, though.
How can something so wonderful (chocolate) come from something that looks so...well...ugly and slimy?
Sorry..
Barb
Family's probably moved into the yard tent by now...
Good luck with them.
They do look kinda yucky, though.
How can something so wonderful (chocolate) come from something that looks so...well...ugly and slimy?
Sorry..
Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Are you hoping to someday make your own chocolate? I hope you are successful in getting some to germinate.
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/fin ... ipes"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... edState=CA" alt=" height="90" width="160" />
-
- Large Palm
- Posts: 1269
- Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2008 8:30 am
- Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Barb, my computer room is now completely full (barely enough space to move), so I've had to start stacking trays on top of each other
I tried the pulp from one of the pods, and although it tasted sweet, it didn't taste like chocolate. I think I should have tried the bean itself.
Thanks, Jubaea! I hope I'm successful too I hear that Theobroma is quite hard to grow (likes to be well-watered but be potted in well-draining soil, likes light shade not full sun, needs high humidity, and will go into decline/die if average temp is below 70 F or exposed to temps below 40 F even briefly)!! That being said, some people have managed to get them to fruit inside their houses. I think if I can get some trees to survive I'll be happy enough
I tried the pulp from one of the pods, and although it tasted sweet, it didn't taste like chocolate. I think I should have tried the bean itself.
Thanks, Jubaea! I hope I'm successful too I hear that Theobroma is quite hard to grow (likes to be well-watered but be potted in well-draining soil, likes light shade not full sun, needs high humidity, and will go into decline/die if average temp is below 70 F or exposed to temps below 40 F even briefly)!! That being said, some people have managed to get them to fruit inside their houses. I think if I can get some trees to survive I'll be happy enough
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71601.gif" alt="Click for Shearwater, Nova Scotia Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
-
- Arctic Palm Plantation
- Posts: 11325
- Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
- Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)
I would've thought your computer room was bulging a month ago.
At what stage are you potting up palm seedlings? One leaf? or Two?
Barb
At what stage are you potting up palm seedlings? One leaf? or Two?
Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
-
- Large Palm
- Posts: 1269
- Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2008 8:30 am
- Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
I think I'll be potting most of them up at 2 leaves. I'll be spending a fortune on pots
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71601.gif" alt="Click for Shearwater, Nova Scotia Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
-
- Arctic Palm Plantation
- Posts: 11325
- Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
- Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)
...and potting soil
And the nursery was born!
Barb
And the nursery was born!
Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
-
- Large Palm
- Posts: 1269
- Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2008 8:30 am
- Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71601.gif" alt="Click for Shearwater, Nova Scotia Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
What do the leaves look like?? How big?
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/MA/Seeko ... igwx"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... eekonk.gif" alt="Click for Seekonk, Massachusetts Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
-
- Large Palm
- Posts: 1269
- Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2008 8:30 am
- Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
The leaves look similar to avacado leaves. I've heard that as seedlings, the leaves will emerge as a reddish colour. Theobroma cacao can eventually get up to 25 feet tall in the wild!
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71601.gif" alt="Click for Shearwater, Nova Scotia Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
-
- Large Palm
- Posts: 1269
- Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2008 8:30 am
- Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Some of the seeds have started to pop now! I'll eventually take some pics when the stems start breaking the surface
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71601.gif" alt="Click for Shearwater, Nova Scotia Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
-
- Arctic Palm Plantation
- Posts: 11325
- Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
- Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)
Man, that was quick.Some of the seeds have started to pop now!
Beats waiting for palms to pop.
Congrats.
Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
-
- Large Palm
- Posts: 1269
- Joined: Sun Dec 07, 2008 8:30 am
- Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Thanks
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71601.gif" alt="Click for Shearwater, Nova Scotia Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests