Author Topic: Question on cashews  (Read 2371 times)

AndrewAZ

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Question on cashews
« on: May 09, 2018, 01:32:08 AM »
I once bought cashew seeds from a lady in Argentina on Ebay.  She advertised her cashew trees as being dwarf, but, producing regular sized fruit and nuts.  So I purchased some,cthey grew, but, of course I killed them.
I tried to look online about dwarf cashew trees, but, it always just gave me another variety all together.  I never saw her list seeds again, but, to get a dwarf variety would be ideal, as I would have to winter the tree in doors.
So, was she scamming me? Anyone know anything about it?

Mugenia

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Re: Question on cashews
« Reply #1 on: May 09, 2018, 02:51:45 AM »
Dwarf cashew is still big, roughly 20 feet in height. Most of the cashew trees I ever saw was about the same size of an apple tree.

sahai1

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Re: Question on cashews
« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2018, 05:26:10 AM »
there are two main types that I see here, red fruit and yellow fruit, the red fruit trees are quite massive and produce so much, the fruit itself is a bit astringent. The yellow fruit ones I have seen not over 20 feet tall, but I'm sure they could do that with time.  Whether what I've seen is specific to variety or age I can not be certain, but I can see that the red variety does fill in, while the yellow variety spread out and provides little shade.

KarenRei

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Re: Question on cashews
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2018, 06:13:57 AM »
there are two main types that I see here, red fruit and yellow fruit, the red fruit trees are quite massive and produce so much, the fruit itself is a bit astringent. The yellow fruit ones I have seen not over 20 feet tall, but I'm sure they could do that with time.  Whether what I've seen is specific to variety or age I can not be certain, but I can see that the red variety does fill in, while the yellow variety spread out and provides little shade.

So the yellow-fruited cashew apples are better for eating out of hand?  Is this a general rule?  I'd been thinking about asking for suggestions for good eating varieties  :)
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sahai1

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Re: Question on cashews
« Reply #4 on: May 09, 2018, 06:35:57 AM »
that would need further research on my part, I have eaten both kinds, but very limited and not side by side.  Cashew leaves are more popular for eating then cashew fruit here.  When doing more research about cashew I read that yellow was a superior variety, but from what I've seen here the growth is rarely dense, fruit limited, and slow growing branches.  The red's however take off in growth like mango, but tend to spread out more, I've seen streets literally covered with nowhere to walk from just 1 red cashew tree.

pineislander

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Re: Question on cashews
« Reply #5 on: May 09, 2018, 07:30:40 AM »

nelesedulis

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Re: Question on cashews
« Reply #6 on: May 09, 2018, 09:49:14 AM »
Hi

This video features a clone of True Dwarf Cashew, developed by the Brazilian government, the video is in Portuguese, more to get an idea, look at the 2:37 minute, the board informs the date of planting, March 2003 and see the size of plants.

On the color of the cashew be better one or the other, this is relative, there are good yellows and good reds, practically all the anacardium occidentalis are astringent even. The sweetest cashews are usually the Cajuís, which may be less than 1 m high, but it is difficult to grow outside the original Biomes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrIbxDdP0Ug
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Cookie Monster

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Re: Question on cashews
« Reply #7 on: May 09, 2018, 10:58:38 AM »
Dwarf cashew is precocious, bearing fruit within 2 years from seed. I've had several different colors: red, purple (nearly black), orange, and yellow. The yellow was the least astringent, but none were worth eating. They can be OK in juice form, but still not much better than a garden curiosity.
Jeff  :-)

CGameProgrammer

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Re: Question on cashews
« Reply #8 on: May 10, 2018, 12:57:54 AM »
So the fruits have no taste aside from sugar? Basically just a collector's plant but nothing more?

sahai1

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Re: Question on cashews
« Reply #9 on: May 10, 2018, 01:07:14 AM »
have to agree with cookie monster... cashew fruit is like take a few bites then throw the rest.  :)
It has a sweet water, but it contains urushiol which I fear.  I've had some horrible allerigic dermatitis from wood dust that contains urushiol.

Cashew trees produce cashew nuts.. so no, not for collectors, cashew nuts get good market price, however Inca nut is more scarce, and much more profitable.
« Last Edit: May 10, 2018, 01:09:06 AM by sahai1 »

Cookie Monster

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Re: Question on cashews
« Reply #10 on: May 10, 2018, 11:01:37 AM »
Sugar? There's not much of it. Brix is probably in the high single digits. Higher on selected cultivars (low teens?). It has a lot of flavor, but it's just not good. Sort of reminds me of burnt rubber in flavor. Juice can be OK though.

You could waste your time roasting the seeds. Or you could just buy them at costco :D.

So the fruits have no taste aside from sugar? Basically just a collector's plant but nothing more?
Jeff  :-)

SanDuh

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Re: Question on cashews
« Reply #11 on: May 12, 2018, 12:39:20 AM »
Dwarf cashew is precocious, bearing fruit within 2 years from seed. I've had several different colors: red, purple (nearly black), orange, and yellow. The yellow was the least astringent, but none were worth eating. They can be OK in juice form, but still not much better than a garden curiosity.

Hi,
You have Cashew fruit in 2 years ? I'm planning to buy a Cashew tree but dont know if they will fruit in CA. I think I'll buy it now..
« Last Edit: May 12, 2018, 01:06:14 AM by SanDuh »

Cookie Monster

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Re: Question on cashews
« Reply #12 on: May 12, 2018, 12:02:06 PM »
The dwarf precocious race will fruit in a 3 gallon pot. The common race will not. If you get one, make sure to get the dwarf precocious race.

Dwarf cashew is precocious, bearing fruit within 2 years from seed. I've had several different colors: red, purple (nearly black), orange, and yellow. The yellow was the least astringent, but none were worth eating. They can be OK in juice form, but still not much better than a garden curiosity.

Hi,
You have Cashew fruit in 2 years ? I'm planning to buy a Cashew tree but dont know if they will fruit in CA. I think I'll buy it now..
Jeff  :-)