Sundry seeds for planting for several weeks to prevent mold and rotting.Those that float have poor germination and growth potential. Place the seeds in a bucket of seawater (100 g salt per 5 liters of water) and select the seeds that sink for planting.Proper seed selection from healthy, high-yielding trees is important, and it can be done by sorting out seeds by the water density method: High-density planting of cashew at a closer spacing of 4 m X 4 m (625 plants/ ha) in the beginning and thinning out in stages to maintain a final spacing of 8 m X 8 m in the tenth year is also recommended. The holes should be 60 cm by 60cm so that they can be able to collect water during the rainy season which will be used during the dry season.Ĭashew trees are generally planted with a spacing of 7.5 m X 7.5 m (175 plants/ ha) or 8 m X 8 m (156 plants/ ha) is recommended. In propagation by direct seeding 3 seeds are planted in the planting hole and two months after germination the weak seedlings are uprooted leaving the strong ones to grow. In the Coastal lowlands, the best time for planting is between April to June.Ĭashew nuts are usually propagated through seed or grafted seedlings. The Portuguese introduced cashew to Mozambique in the 16th century where it flourished, forming extensive forests eventually, it also became dispersed in East Africa along the coastal plains of Kenya and Tanzania.Ĭashew nuts should be planted at the beginning of the rainy season. The cashew apple is pear-shaped and red to yellow.Ĭashew trees can reach a height of 12 m (39.4 ft) and have an economic lifespan of 25 years after which time they are replaced in commercial plantations.Ĭashew originates from Brazil. The tree produces numerous pinkish-white flowers on drooping panicles and a kidney-shaped true fruit (nut) which is approximately 3 cm (1.2 in) long with a grey-brown shell and develops from a fleshy accessory fruit, sometimes referred to as the 'cashew apple'. The leaves are smooth with pronounced veins and midrib and possess petioles that are swollen at their base. The thin foliage of the tree is limited to the ends of the branches and is made up of oval-oblong leathery, shiny dark green leaves. The cashew tree has a branching main trunk and characteristic domed crown. They are highly nutritious, with high amounts of vitamin C, calcium, iron, and vitamin B1.Cashew is an evergreen tree with deep tap roots, grown for its edible fruits (nuts). Both the cashew apples and the nuts are good for you. You’ll want to don gloves and a long-sleeved shirt for protection, and maybe safety glasses. One method to separate the nuts from the caustic shell is to freeze the cashew nuts and separate them while they are frozen. The shell of the cashew nut contains a caustic oil that causes burns and skin irritation on contact. The nuts grow in shells at the bottom end of the apples. These develop into edible red fruits, called cashew apples. The tree produces rose colored fragrant flowers in panicles. Additional Cashew Nut InformationĬashew nut trees grow flowers during winter, not summer. If insect pests, like the twig borer, eat the tree foliage, treat the trees with an appropriate insecticide. Trim the young cashew trees every now and then to remove branches that are broken or diseased. Be sure to use a fertilizer that contains nitrogen and phosphorus, and also possibly zinc. Provide fertilizer during the growing season, especially when the tree is flowering and developing nuts. ![]() If you have planted cashew nut trees, you’ll need to provide your young trees with both water and fertilizer. Well-draining sandy soil is best for growing cashew nuts and trees. The trees are drought resistant, and they can thrive on marginal soils. In fact, with a little irrigation, they grow like weeds. In this temperature range, growing cashew nut trees is easy. ![]() It is also possible to grow the trees in any frost-free area. ![]() Ideally, your temperature should not drop below 50 degrees F. You can start growing cashew nuts if you live in the tropics, whether the climate is wet or dry.
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