How to Germinate a Cocoa Seed

Choose the Best Seeds

• 1

  Select the biggest pods from a healthy cocoa tree that produced an abundance of fruit. These favorable traits will most likely produce a new tree with the same qualities.

• 2

  Open the pod carefully by hand. Scoop out the cocoa seeds from the middle, as these are the ones that seem to grow the best.

• 3

  Discard the pod. A dead pod doesn't contain viable cocoa seeds. Once the seeds are harvested, sow them immediately. After about a week, the seeds are no longer productive unless stored properly.

• 4

  Obtain cocoa seeds from a reputable source if a mother cocoa tree is not available. Ask the seed dealer how old the cocoa seeds are and how they are stored to ensure you are purchasing healthy seeds. Cocoa seeds can be stored in an area with a steady 50 percent moisture content for up to two weeks.

Germinate the Seeds

• 5

  Select a land plot where you want the cacao tree to grow. Choose an area that is protected from high winds and receives partial sun. Because cacao trees like hot temperatures, choose the warmest area of the land, such as the side facing south. Also, ensure the area drains well and doesn't accumulate water during heavy rains.

• 6

  Prepare the soil in the land plot. Fertile, loose, well-draining soils that aren't too sandy or mucky work best. Till the soil deeply to provide ample room for the cacao tree to develop a deep root system.

• 7

  Irrigate the soil before sowing the seeds. The soil needs to remain constantly moist for successful germination. Watering the soil beforehand decreases the chance of seed disruption from overhead watering.

• 8

  Sow the cocoa seeds shallowly into the soil, covering them with a thin layer of soil. Planting the cocoa seeds too deeply prohibits them from receiving sufficient air and they won't germinate.

• 9

  Keep the soil constantly moist, but not water-logged. Use a drip-irrigation system to reduce risk of seed disruption. Otherwise, mist the soil with a spray bottle. The cocoa seeds begin to sprout within one to two weeks.