Product Review

Cocoa plants are adapted to and grow best in hot, humid tropical areas with evenly distributed rainfall and year-round temperatures at or above 68°F and no freezing temperatures. However, cocoa plants with their beautiful foliage and striking pods (fruit), can be grown in well protected areas, and they make unique, interesting, challenging, and fun additions to the home landscape. It may be planted under the canopies of tall overhanging trees or next to buildings or structures. However, cocoa planted in deep shade tends to be spindly and non-productive. Cocoa are small to medium sized trees (15-30 ft; 6-9.1 m) with few branches under tropical environments. The time from flower pollination to a fully developed pod takes 5 to 7 months or more. Flowering only occurs when temperatures are at or above 68°F(20°C). Cocoa is pollinated by crawling and flying insects. Cocoa require access to soil moisture (water) nearly year round and thus benefit from regular watering during dry periods. Drought stress leads to leaf and flower drop and poor fruit production. The Cacao Tree fruit is a huge berry called cacao pod, usually egg or melon-shaped, 5 to 12 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. The cacao pod contains 30 to 40 seeds. It takes 20 to 25 pods to get 2 pounds of cocoa. Unlike most fruit that grows on the branches, cacao pods grow directly on the trunk of the tree. The cacao tree yields its first crop at 3-4 years old.