Vanilla is an orchid and can nowadays be grown without problems in Thailand and Laos. Naturally we also have vanilla plants on display and for sale at Discovery Garden Pattaya and Nong Khai. Historically Mexico had a vanilla monopoly until 1841 when a 12 year old slave had a very simple but effective idea.
Vanilla plants flower after about two years
The growing of vanilla is not so terribly difficult in tropical countries like Thailand and Laos. You just let them climb up a tree, pole or wall and keep them moist. This is easily achieved by regularly spraying them with water and fertilizer.
Vanilla for sale at Discovery Gardens for Thailand and Laos
But you should not fertilize your Thai and Lao vanilla heavily near the ground since the roots there are easily damaged. And when they reach a height of about 2 meters you should turn them around so they will to grow downwards again.
Vanilla plants flower after about two years
Mexico had a highly profitable monopoly for vanilla, but with the beginning of the 19th Century other tropical farmers tried to grow vanilla in their colonies. That was not so difficult, the plants grew well and flowered too. But there was no yield. The vanilla spice is produced from the namesake seed pods, but outside of Mexico the growers were not able to grow those precious seed pods.
If there is not the right bee, take a tooth pick
There is only one specific bee native to Mexico that can naturally pollinate the vanilla flower. Only in 1841 Edmond Albius in Reunion, a 12 year old slave, developed a simple and effective way of hand pollinating the vanilla flower which flourishes only one day. I have seen the method in Mexico where nowadays the commercial growers also use that simple trick since it increases the yield considerably.
Just slit open the flower sideways…
So if you want to grow your own vanilla in Thailand or Laos you just take a tooth pick and cut the flower open on the side. Thus you enable the pollination of your vanilla plant.
The green vanilla seedpods can develop
Since you need to hand pollinate your vanilla plants, hinder them to climb higher than 2 meters by reversing them.
Now just dry the seed pods
Now you just wait a while and you can enjoy your own home grown Thai and Lao vanilla. We always have vanilla plants for sale at Discovery Garden Pattaya and Nong Khai.
The final result: homegrown vanilla
How old are the Vanilla vines that are for sale?
Cost per vine?
Time frame from replanting vine to production?
Cost of cinnamon trees?
Cheers
Dear Keith,
our rooted vanilla vines are 1200 Baht each (you can make 4 – 6 new plants from one) and it will take about two years until you can harvest.
Cinnamon: We have small trees at 250 Baht and huge ones (about 2 meter) for 3000 Baht.
Hans Fritschi
Servus,
wie lange dauert es bis zur Ernte, wenn man mit Vanille-SAMEN die Plantage startet ?
Verkaufst Du hetrocknete soursop Blätter, wenn ja, wie teuer pro kg ?
LG
Franz
Lieber Franz,
wir haben noch nie Vanille von Samen gezogen, wir ziehen neue Pflanzen von unseren bestehenden.
1 kg getrocknete Soursop Blätter kosten 2500 Baht.
Alles Gute
Hans
Hallo Hans,
kann man bei euch Vanilla Schoten kaufen? Falls ja, zu welchem Preis.
Danke für baldige Antwort.
Mit besten Grüßen AIS Hua Hin.Harry Thiel
Lieber Harry,
leider haben wir erst Pflanzen, aber vielleicht in einem Jahr oder so, sollten wir wohl welche haben.
Alles Gute
Hans Fritschi
Hi Hans
is it possible to ship vanilla plants and cinnamon seedlings fro your Nong Khai property to Luang Prabang in Laos?
Wow……I have been looking through your site, been looking for this sort of resource for years. Can you send me your price list so I can see what variety of plants you have. Next time I am in Nong Khai I will contact to come visit.
Further to my message above, do you also have any fig seedlings?
cheers
Richard
Dear Richard,
I do not think we can send above plants to Luang Prabang, but they could be picked up in our Nong Khai location. I will soon drive up from Pattaya to Nong Khai and could take them there for you. If you are interested in that, I need to know asap.
I have attached a price list for your convenience.
All the best
Hans
Hi Hans
I’m not that familar with WordPress so might be missing something but I can’t see any price list attached.
When are you planning to come to Nong Khai, I will see if I can fit this in?
Perhaps email to me.
Cheers
Richard