Cacao tree - brown pods

Comment

Comment by Chad Settlemier on August 30, 2010 at 3:53pm

Brian, thanks for explaining the details here. Good to know this. I would assume the chemical treatment would not be an "organic" method?

Comment by Chad Settlemier on August 23, 2010 at 3:22am

Thanks!

Comment by Seneca Klassen on August 22, 2010 at 3:37am

Check the relevant section here:
http://www.worldcocoafoundation.org/who-we-are/newsletters/newslett...

Comment by Chad Settlemier on August 22, 2010 at 2:39am

Interesting.. How does one manage this and better yet prevent it from happening? I just bought 120 health organic cacao trees so I will be planting soon.

Thanks!

Comment by Seneca Klassen on August 22, 2010 at 2:29am

Black pod (phytophthora) is relatively common on the Hilo side of the Big Island, so that's certainly something to be aware of. I've seen it here and there throughout the Hawaiian islands, and I would consider it a management issue for any cocoa growers here.

Comment by Chad Settlemier on August 21, 2010 at 3:49pm

Oh, interesting.. I was touring a farm near Papaya farms road on the Big Island and shot this photo. The owner of the farm seemed really knowledgable about Permaculture but didn't know much about cacao. There were some harvested pods (the dark orange ones) which looked normal. Thanks for commenting as I'm interested in learning everything about growing cacao.

Comment by Jim on August 21, 2010 at 8:32am

Chad,
I took a look at your photo of "brown pods" and if it were fruit in our farms I would cut it and find out what the cause is. I am almost certain the coloration is because the pods are diseased. It would be prudent to find out if the problem is localized or if it could be endemic. These things normally do not appear then just go away.

Jim Lucas