Cultivated

Cocoa was original grown in large open plantations. Today they are commonly intercropped with other crops depending on location. The most common are banana, rubber, coconut, oil palm, plantain, timber tree, and areca nut. The spacing may vary based on crop is used to provide shade. Some provide temporary shade and other permit.

 

It is important to remove vegetation, such as noxious weeds before planting. Often this accomplished by burning. Irrigation may be need based on the region fall. Fertilizer should be applied twice a year around April and September. If the beans are harvest in the field, the husk are spread thought the field to return nutrients. Applying mulch is suggest to help with moisture retention and weed suppression.

 

Cocoa tree does need to be pruned. The first time should be between two and five years after planting. After that, every five to seven after that. It is best to prune the tress towards the end of the dry season, so that the wounds heal quickly to prevent disease at the start of the rainy season. No more than 25% of the canopy should be remove at any one time.

 

Cocoa planting can last for over 40 years. Replant should be consider if the trees are producing less than 14 pods per year. There are four different method to replanting; under-planting, gradual replanting, complete replanting, and new planting.
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Propagation

Cocoa tree can be grown from seeds. It is important not collect the seed too early, no more than 15 day before the pod has ripped. Cross pollination can also occur resulting in wide range in genetic variability, therefore an important factor to take into count when using this method.

 

Creating clones through vegetative propagation is very common. There are three method of vegetative propagation; cutting/grafting, budding and marcotting. Budding and grafting require a rootstock; 10-12 month old seedling for budding and 3-4 month old seedling for grafting. There is an 85% success rate with budding and 70% with grafting, so both a common used around the world. For marcotting, the bark is removed from a branch and covered in saw duck. When the branch forms roots it is removed and planted. No rootstock in need for this method. The drawback for vegetative propagation is reduced genetic variation. In vitro propagation can be used, but is mainly used for research.    

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Video on Cocoa Propagation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harvesting

When the pods removed from the tree when they are ripe. This should be done carefully not to harm the pods or the tree, especially for pods high in the tree.  The pods are held in the shade in for 7 to 10 day before the bean can be removed. A wooden club is used to open the pods and the beans then the removed by hand. A machete or other cutting tool can be used to open pods but the beans can be damaged. Special machinery have been developed but are often not used by smaller growers. Once the beans are moved from the pod they undergo a fermentation and drying processes. [21]

 

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