Cacao Seeds (forum)

Natalie1 starts with ...
Hi im Natalie from New Zealand i was wondering when the cacao fruits there as i am looking to grow them

Time: 18th February 2013 4:11pm

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About the Author Natalie1
New Zealand
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Diana says...
Hi Natalie,

Cocoa fruits over a long period or even all year. It is an exclusively a crop of high rainfall parts of the wet tropics, close to the equator. There is no commercial production in Australia:

http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/26_16130.htm

Temperature

The ideal range of temperatures for cocoa is minima of 18-21

Time: 18th February 2013 10:24pm

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Original Post was last edited: 18th February 2013 10:25pm

About the Author Diana
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BJ says...
There is a plantation in the daintree. http://www.daintreeestates.com/growing_cocoa.htm
They charge a premium for their chocolate. There are trees all over FNQ. Only a few trees down south and I've heard of fruiting ones at a big grower in NNSW?!?! The best place to get pods is on eBay, where they are sold regularly in season by FNQers.
I grew some for a few years and they grow okay, but need special care, which I am not inclined to give for something you can buy very inexpensively.

Time: 19th February 2013 9:39am

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About the Author Theposterformerlyknownas
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Diana says...
Hi Natalie and BJ,

DAFF obviously doesn't count that as commercial scale. There are some in the tropical dome at Mt Coot-tha botanic gardens that fruit, but they won't grow in New Zealand.

Time: 19th February 2013 3:29pm

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About the Author Diana
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
There is an impressive specimen which fruits regularly in Melbourne as well, in the same glasshouse where the titan arum flowered a couple of months ago.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 19th February 2013 8:10pm

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About the Author TyalgumPhil
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Natalie1 says...
cool thanks could anyone get me some seeds?


Time: 20th February 2013 6:37am

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About the Author Natalie1
New Zealand
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ivepeters says...
You have to get a pod, seeds loose viabiility fast outside the pod.There are people on ebay selling them currently. Must warn you germination is close to 100% so plan accordingly.

Time: 20th February 2013 8:59am

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About the Author ivepeters
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trikus says...
Cannot see any current listings on feebay .
Several pods on my trees are a while from being ready . No way would you be able to send to NZ legally . Am going to eat all mine I think . Gee they smell great when roasting .

Time: 20th February 2013 11:01am

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ivepeters says...
Sorry
forgot a week is a long time on ebay.

Time: 20th February 2013 11:47am

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About the Author ivepeters
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denise1 says...
The cacao is allowed into NZ as theobroma cacao, but seeds only. NOT pods. They require a proper tropical house. A twinskin greenhouse is required and almost year round heating. It is cheaper to buy luxury grade chocolate than trying to grow them. Of course there is the fun of growing something that is difficult. There must be lots of easier plants to choose from and still be doing something special and unusual. You can experience fantastic tastes by just growing your own more normal fruits but just eat a miracle berry tablet first. Tastes can be amazing with fresh picked fruit that grows easy in your garden. You can get miracle berry tablets online.I tried cocoa in Auckland and they all died.

Time: 20th February 2013 3:05pm

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About the Author denise1
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Clint says...
I wonder if cocoa can be grafted onto a plant that will tolerate more conditions. The peanut tree (sterculia quadrifida) is part of the same family and is native, being part deciduous when cold. This plant may be a suitable rootstock host.

Time: 25th January 2014 2:59pm

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About the Author Clint
Ashbury
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Mike Tr says...
Cacao is genetically very diverse and the formulas for suitable climates don't seem very accurate.They are grown in the 6000mm/yr zone in Colombia,in the dry Cerrado in Brazil with supplementary watering and in the cool south of Brazil.The right cultivar should be ok in ]Briz.,but why bother unless you're making chocolate? Raking your teeth over seeds for scant flesh is less appealing than growing their more glamorous congenors capauassu and macambo.

Time: 25th January 2014 7:39pm

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People who Like this Answer: trikus,Speedy,Fruit Lover

About the Author Mike Tr
Cairns
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Fruit Lover says...
Hi Mike,
Are you growing the capauassu and macambo?
I would love to get some seeds or plants if you would sell any?


Time: 14th September 2014 7:05pm

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About the Author Fruit Lover
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Mike Tr says...
Fruit Lover I did have a few in pots and gave them all away as I had many more seeds planted from other sources.Ants killed all the new ones and I have since been interested in bagging other 'game'.Capuacu seedling look a lot like young kepels.

Time: 19th September 2014 8:05am

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About the Author Mike Tr
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Fruit Lover says...
Mike,
Oh no.
Thanks for that anyway, could you tell me where I could get some seeds at all, or know anyone that sells them or grows the trees up there that you could put me in touch with?


Time: 29th September 2014 5:38pm

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About the Author Fruit Lover
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