Cacao Tree

The cacao trees seem to like the office environment pretty well. Here is the largest and only tree not planted in an actual pot. I transplanted two almost just like it from solo cups to pots and the roots were already starting to wrap around the bottom a week ago.  They really like it near windows where they can get a decent amount of light but not necessarily full sun.

This little guy sits by a south facing window in a "V" shape. It gets morning and afternoon sun through a window that has pretty good UV protection, keeps the office cooler in the summer. At mid day it's in the shadow of the support for the windows as if it's hiding behind another tree which is just about perfect for him.

The leaves were initially a very thin and translucent which worried me for a little while but as they matured they took on this nice healthy green look. The tops look like they might start to produce more leaves soon but so far that's just a guess. There are also two stubs on the side under the leaves that might also be possibilities for leaves/branches or may be the beginnings of the flower pads that will hopefully produce the lovely cacao pods I so hope will produce before too long.  Either way they will have to be repotted well before that happens. I'm thinking a 5-10 gallon pot should suffice, especially if I keep them pruned to stay inside with max ceiling height of 8 feet.

For more progress see the update post.

Cacao (Chocolate) Sprouts

Quite a few of the cacao seeds have sprouted and are doing well. Most of the healthier ones started in solo cups, go figure.
I have several in larger pots and they're putting down some good roots. Hopefully in a few years I can get some fresh cacao pods.
It will have to keep them pretty short though since they can get upwards of 25 feet high or more. They're understory trees though and thus they will do well indoors in indirect light. The big problem will be is if we keep them inside the house and the cats want to eat the leaves.  Not sure how this might affect them but they will chew on anything.

The reason I really want fresh pods is because I tried getting them shipped in but by the time they got here the pulp was already drying out and not nearly as juicy as I had hoped. I've had a fresh pod before and the pulp was dripping rather than just moist.  It looked like the outer layer had been absorbing the moisture and getting softer. Not sure but this is probably it's natural way of decomposing and spreading it's seeds.

Cacao Pods

My lovely cacao pods came Saturday. They range from about 8" to 5" long.  Although this picture really doesn't do them justice, the small yellow pod is much more yellow than the other two.

 

We plan to have some folks over to taste the wonderful pulp and at the same time have a seed planting / roasting party. Freshly roasted cocoa beans I'm sure will smell wonderful.

 

These pods were purchased from the more and more famous Montoso Gardens, at least among the chocolate connoisseurs here in the states. These are not the GMO pods that are now starting to pervade the cacao markets but naturally grown and harvested pods historically grown in Puerto Rico.

 

If you've never tasted the pulp from a fresh pod you should either take a trip out to the Caribbean or at least order a few pods for yourself. They are fully licensed to ship to the main land.

Onion Parch

The onion patch is growing great. I watered the first few days and since then the rain has taken care of keeping it watered for me.

 

We've also got a seed vault off of Amazon which we're planning on starting seeds from and planting tomorrow. We're putting up shelves for the starters and I have finally taken down the pecan tree in the back yard which was threatening to fall on either the house or the power lines eventually.  Neither of these options seemed like a good idea to me and so I spent the better part of a day felling it and three evenings after work cutting it into pieces.  We will now have plenty of sunshine peering through where the pecan tree used to be. I also plan to have the mimosa tree cut to the ground in the next week or so. I cut it, mostly, down a couple years ago for a similar reason but it's putting forth shoots from all over and just doesn't want to die.

 

Also in the near future I'm looking into putting in a green house for even more plant loving fun.  One fellow had the good idea of putting a Jacuzzi in the greenhouse so it can be enjoyed year round.  Not a bad plan.