cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/23224596
More pix first. Then explanation.
So this is going on the fifth year I'll be farming Vanilla. My operation is microscopic but it's a work in progress. I've got maybe 300 vines all in. I got some Vanilla off this planting 2 years ago, and this was the first vines I planted. Which is some what typical for Vanilla. Usually 3-5 years before they really become productive.
I fertilized these back in May/ April. It's a tiny yield but next year I expect to have maybe 5-20x this amount, which means if I can sell some of it, I'll finally be able to cover some of my costs.
Right now I have about five varieties. All from either trade or from hiking to old plantations and looking for feral populations. This one is a variety of Tahitiensis and I made a vanilla bean whip cream a few months ago with it. It's a very distinctly 'bourbon' flavor. Like i ground it up in a mortar and pessle and it straight up smelled like whiskey.
So not close to enough to sell (again) this year. But next year and the following years, maybe this hobby will finally start paying itself off.
This is gorgeous. Would it be too wet for it in west central FL? Will it grow from seeds?
I doubt it will be too wet, but it will likely get too cold to reliably grow most vanilla species outdoors all year long. I think most conservative estimates say it'll grow in zone 11 and up, so if your specific doesn't match that criteria, you'll probably need to grow it in a pot and grow it some place warm in the winter.
It can be grown from seed, but it's a complicated process that will require some research and technical skills for a good chance at success. Then it will be about a decade or more before the seedlings are large enough to start blooming. Most people do not grow from seeds for this reason. It's much easier to grow from cuttings.
Thanks, that helps. We are 10a, last few years have been quite mild winters but this year it already has been cold twice (40f) overnight and it's not even January.
You might be able to throw a blanket on it or keep younger plants inside :)