Cocoa tree
Cocoa trees are green all year round and grow best in the shade on nutrient-rich and deep soils. They may last over 100 years, grow up to 20 m high and flower all year round. The cacao tree requires a lot of space in the ground. Its large root system requires a nutrient-rich, deep soil that can absorb a lot of water.
However, the cacao tree does not like stagnant moisture, which is why the water in the soil must be able to infiltrate well. On the plantationcacao trees are pruned to a maximum of 6 metres. 2-5 years after planting, they begin to flower and produce fruit. Each year they produce up to 70,000 small flowers, which appear directly on the trunk of the tree and develop into cocoa fruits within 5-6 months.
A cacao tree can last over 100 years, but on a plantation it should be renewed after 30-50 years. The tree blooms all year round, but there is a main season and a low season.
