VANILLA CULTIVATION PARAMETERS
VANILLA WEATHER AND SOIL
· Warm, moist tropical climate
· Average rainfall of 75”–90” per year
· Maximum temperature of 85F and Minimum of 70F
· Above sea level of more than 900ft
· Sandy loam soil that is rich in compost
VANILLA SHADE
· 50:50 sun and shade
· Unprotected vines lose moisture and retards growth
· Heavy shades weaken vines and reduce flowering and fruiting
· Banana, coffee, avocado, coconut trees can be used as shade trees. Typically, vanilla is grown as inter crop with coffee or bananas.
VANILLA SUPPORT
· Vanilla vines needs support for climbing and growth
· Bamboo or long wood post can be used
· Strip wood houses can effectively control sunlight and moisture. Coconut leaves are recommended.
VANILLA PLANTING
· Vanilla is exclusively propagated from cuttings
· Cuttings are usually 8-10 inches and are planted near support
· Mulching is extremely important
· One hectare of land can grow 1500–2000 vines
· Vine looping is important for easy reach and root system
VANILLA FLOWERING
· Vines starts flowering after three years
· Usually 75% of vines flower in a season
VANILLA POLLINATION
· It is the most strenuous aspect of cultivation
· Each flower is individually pollinated by hand
· Flowers open in the morning and should be pollinated by mid-day
· Vines blossom for 12 months
· Each vine should be observed every day during the flowering season
VANILLA HARVEST AND YIELDS
· Beans are matured 8 months after pollination
· Each bean weighs 25-35 grams with a moisture content of 80-85%
· Vines produce 1.5kg–2kg green beans per season
· Well managed fields produce 3000kg green beans per year
The Vanilla ReportThe Vanilla Report/La Lettre de la Vanille is a bi-lingual publication which provides the vanilla commodity market with the technical and objective information it needs
For more info please see article on vanilla by the director of Buydominica
Links
The Vanilla Report
The Vanilla Report/La Lettre de la Vanille is a bi-lingual publication
which provides the vanilla commodity market with the technical and
objective information it needs
Vanilla Growing and Cultivating
National Ice cream Retailers Association
Dominica Vanilla Growers Association
Article on
Reviving the Vanilla Association
Vanilla
Prices as high as $500.00 per Kilo
