Tips for Growing Healthy Cashew Trees

The cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) is an evergreen and nut tree in the Anacardiaceae family. It is native to northeastern Brazil and southeastern Venezuela in South America. Portuguese colonists called the tree "caju" when they discovered it and began exporting it in the 16th century. The English name of the cashew tree is derived from this name. Cashew trees now grow in other tropical and temperate climates around the world, including India, Africa, and Southeast Asia.


The fruit of the cashew tree (known as "marañón" in Central America) grows from a flower stalk. The cashew fruit is commonly called cashew apple and is often used in jams and jellies, but technically it is a supplementary fruit rather than a true fruit. Mature trees also produce the cashew nut seed, which is actually the distinctive cashew nut of the tree. Cashew nuts are rich in calcium, vitamin C and carbohydrates. Cashews are in the same family as pistachios and are good for making a creamy nut butter.

Caring for a cashew tree is easy if you know a few simple growing tips.


1. Grow cashew trees in a warm climate. Cashew trees grow best in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11.


2. Sow seeds or plant young trees. Choose fresh cashews to sow for germination. Growing from seeds is a slow process and it may take up to five years for your cashew tree to bear fruit. If you want to grow it faster, buy a potted cashew tree from a garden center.


3. Expose your cashew tree to sunlight. For these fruit trees to grow optimally, they should receive at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Cashew trees that are in too much shade tend to produce fewer cashew seeds.


4. Use sandy soil. Cashew trees thrive in moderately sandy soil with a pH of about 6. Avoid clay soils and dense soils, which retain too much water. Cashew trees grow best in well-drained soil.


5. Water the tree seasonally. Water the tree generously in summer and sparingly in winter. Allow the soil to dry completely between watering, as too much water can kill your cashew tree.


6. Fertilize your cashew tree. Fertilize every two months during the growing season with a fertilizer high in phosphorus. Add a layer of compost or organic mulch for an extra nutrient boost.


7. Watch for pest problems. Borers are one of the most common pests that attack cashew trees. Swollen trunks are an indication that your cashew tree has an infestation of borers. Borers can occur as early as the seedling stage. Prune affected branches or use a bark spray to solve the borer problem.


8. Be careful when handling raw cashew nuts and cashew nut shells. The cashew tree is in the same family as poison ivy, and cashew seed shell liquid is a type of caustic oil that can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions if handled improperly. Wear heavy gardening gloves to protect your hands

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