Cashew Tree Care Tips: How to Grow a Cashew Tree

A cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) is an evergreen tree and nut tree belonging to the Anacardiaceae family. It is native to northeastern Brazil and southeastern Venezuela in South America. Portuguese colonists named the cashew tree “caju” when they found it and started exporting it in the sixteenth century. The English name for the cashew tree derives from this name. Cashew trees now grow in other tropical and warm climates around the world, including India, Africa, Southeast Asia.

The fruit of the cashew tree (known in Central America as “marañón”) grows from the flowers’ pedicels. Cashew fruits are commonly called cashew apples and are commonly used in jams and jellies, though they are technically an accessory fruit rather than a true fruit. Mature trees also produce cashew seeds, which are actually the tree’s distinctive cashew nuts. The cashew nut is high in calcium, vitamin C, and carbohydrates. Cashew nuts belong to the same family as the pistachio nut and are useful for making creamy nut butter.

Taking care of a cashew tree is easy if you know some simple growers’ tips.

1. 1. Grow your cashew tree in a warm climate. Cashew trees grow best in USDA hardiness zones ten and eleven.
2. 2. Sow seeds or plant a young tree. Choose fresh cashew seeds to sow for germination. Growing from seeds is a slower process and it may take up to five years for your cashew tree to yield fruit. For a faster growing process, buy a potted cashew tree from a garden center.
3. 3. Expose your cashew tree to full sun. Provide at least six hours of daily direct sunlight for maximum growth of these fruit trees. Cashew trees that get too much shade tend to produce fewer cashew seeds.
4. 4. Use sandy soil. Cashew trees thrive in sandy soils with a moderate pH level of approximately six. Avoid clay soils and dense soils as these retain too much water. Cashew trees do best in well-draining soil.
5. 5. Water your tree according to the season. Water your tree deeply in the summer and sparingly in the winter. Allow the soil to dry completely between periods of watering, as overwatering can destroy cashew trees.
6. 6. Fertilize your cashew tree. Use a phosphorus-rich fertilizer every other month during the growing season. Add a layer of compost or organic mulch for an extra nutrient boost.
7. 7. Be aware of pest issues. Borer pests are some of the most common pests to afflict the cashew tree. A swollen stem is one indication that your cashew tree has borers, which can start as early as the seedling stage. Prune infested branches or use a bark spray to resolve borer problems.
8. 8. Take care when handling raw cashews and cashew nutshells. Cashew trees belong to the same family as poison ivy and the shell liquid of cashew seeds is a type of caustic oil that can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions when improperly handled. Use thick gardening gloves to protect your hands.

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