

PRUNING CASHEW TREES FULL
Without the meticulous pruning required to help them grow, farmers can’t derive the full benefits of the crop.Īs the son of a farmer, Yao was all too familiar with the complexities of growing cashew. In Sakassou, this phenomenon is all too common. While sun-loving cashew trees grow quickly here, without appropriate spacing they fail to produce their full potential yield. Yao Wilfried Kouadio, 26, lives in a small community in the Sakassou region of Côte d’Ivoire called Konankro, located in the country’s dense, lush, central region where cashew trees dot the landscape. Roasting or steaming will get rid of this chemical.By David Lederer, Project Manager, Red River Foods Use gloves when you are picking or processing fruits or nuts.
PRUNING CASHEW TREES SKIN
Use caution, especially if you have known allergies to other tree nuts. The shells of the nut contain a toxic oil which can cause skin reactions including blistering. Warnings: Cashew nuts can provoke an allergic reaction in some individuals. Leaves may be used for treating toothaches. Fruit juices and oils of the nut are used topically to treat warts and calluses. The high levels of antioxidants found in the nut are beneficial to overall health. Historically used as a fever reducer, blood pressure regulator, and in the treatment of snakebites. The skin of the nuts and leaf extracts may have antibacterial and antifungal properties. Medicinal: Regular consumption of cashew nuts may provide health benefits to the eyes. The cashew apple contains high levels of vitamin C. Also contains vitamin K, many B-complex vitamins, manganese, potassium, copper, iron, magnesium, selenium, and zinc. Nutritional: The nut of this tree provides a good source of calories, dietary fiber, and healthy mono-unsaturated fatty acids. It can also be added to recipes like a vegetable. Cooking briefly by boiling or steaming will remove this, and peeling can also help since tannins are concentrated in the skin. They can also be made into a vegan cheese alternative, added to curries, baked into dessert recipes, or used as a cereal topping. The cashew apple can be eaten raw as a fruit, though it has some astringency. Wear gloves, safety goggles, and other protective clothing for this process. Processed nuts are eaten as a snack, either raw or roasted. You can also deep freeze them and then separate the nut from the shell while still frozen. To avoid getting this on your skin or on the edible inner nut, whole un-shelled cashews are usually roasted or steamed to neutralize the oil before shelling. Prepare: The cashew nut needs to be hulled before it’s ready to eat, but the shell is infused with a toxic oil which will cause blistering and other unpleasant skin reactions.

It can also be dehydrated and candied, a practice popular in Costa Rica. The fruit is also used for making preserves, chutneys, juices, or jams which can be canned for later use. This spread should be refrigerated and used within 6 months. Cashew apples can be made into a vinegar, or alcohol, through fermentation. Preserve: Cashew nuts can be made into a nut butter by grinding them finely. You can use fallen leaves that are either green or dried. Mulching: Use mulch to conserve soil moisture. Pruning the top of the tree back after 5 or 6 years of growth will make it easier to harvest by keeping trees bushy and shorter.

Spraying with an extract derived from moringa leaves every two weeks can help protect plants from fungal diseases. In particular, plants need adequate amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and zinc.įoliar: Will benefit from foliar applications of zinc. Can tolerate poor soils, but will have a higher yield with more fertile soil or occasional applications of a balanced organic fertilizer. Nutrients: Requires low to moderate levels of nutrients. Aim for about 1 inch per week during dry and hot weather.

You should always let the soil surface dry out between watering to avoid soggy roots. However, fruit and nut quality and yields will be improved with regular water. Mature trees can survive drought due to their deep root system. When trees are young, they’ll need regular moisture. Water: Requires low to moderate levels of water.
