Module 2: Choosing seeds and growing seedlings_Phase 1

SATCocoa Phase 1: Choosing seeds and growing seedlings

 The grower can buy at research centres
  • either selected seeds of good quality
He sows the seeds in a nursery bed or in baskets. Later, he plants out the seedlings in the plantation.
  • or young seedlings of good quality
He plants them straight away in the plantation.
  • Some growers have no research centre nearby.
They can nevertheless have good cocoa plantations by:

 ¬ choosing their own seeds,
¬ sowing their seeds in a nursery bed,
¬ planting out their seedlings in the plantation.

 Nursery bed is the name for the place where the seeds are sown to make them germinate.
Take the best beans from the middle of the pod
Email: hello@satcocoa.com

Popular posts from this blog

Module 3: Choosing and preparing the plantation site_Phase 3

SATCocoa Phase 3: Preparing to plant cocoa trees With traditional methods, planting is most often done in a haphazard way. The cocoa trees are not planted in rows. There is not the same distance between them. When the trees are too far apart, they do not use all the soil; when they are too close, they grow badly. Instead, you should always plant in rows. First mark the rows for the cocoa trees, leaving about 2.5 to 3 metres between rows. Along each row, mark out with pegs the spots where the cocoa trees are to go. Leave about 2.5 to 3 metres between trees. In this way you can plant about 1 000 to 1 600 seedlings per hectare. Digging the holes Before planting cocoa trees, the grower must dig holes in order  to stir the earth and loosen it. Dig the holes two months before planting the cocoa trees. When you are digging the hole,  do not mix together the soil from above and the soil from below: Make two separate heaps. Email: hello@satcocoa.com
Read more

Module 2: Choosing seeds and growing seedlings_Phase 4

SATCocoa Phase 4: Lifting seedlings from nursery beds 1/ Six months after sowing, when the seedlings have two leaves,  take the young cocoa tree seedlings out of the nursery beds. If you wait too long, the seedlings will be too old and will not grow so easily. Remove the seedlings from the nursery beds with a spade. Be very careful not to break the roots. Sort out the young cocoa seedlings. Throw away diseased seedlings and badly grown seedlings. Use only the healthiest seedlings. 2/ If you have sown your seeds in baskets, place the baskets in holes dug in the plantation. There is no need to remove the basket, as it will rot in the earth. If you have sown your seeds in polyethylene bags, remove the bag. Place the ball of earth with the seedling into the hole.
Read more

Module 3: Choosing and preparing the plantation site_Phase 1

Image
SATCocoa Phase 1: Choosing the site If a cocoa tree is to grow well, it needs more than anything else a soil of good structure, permeable and deep. The cocoa tree has tap-roots. The tap-root descends straight into the soil. The branch roots go down very deep. But many small branch roots also grow near the surface. If the soil is of good structure and contains much humus, the roots penetrate well. You can improve the soil structure by spreading manure and working it into the soil. If the soil is deep, the roots can go down to a good depth. Never plant cocoa trees in soil with a lot of stones, or in soil where there is some hard layer. Email: hello@satcocoa.com
Read more