Is there any place in Europe where cocoa can be grown outdoor ?

[Janpol]

As in the title.

I am asking for a professional answer.

[Luisport]

Some islands of Azores and some localities of Madeira island...

[Janpol]

Thanks a lot. As far as I know there is windy and rather dry. Is cacao tree which grow there needs additional water and shelter? Is that tree can be flowering and fruiting? Do you know where is the best place on this islands (south, north, west, east, on the coast, in the mountain, inland)? When cacao tree can be grown there, is cope there other tropical plants?

[Luisport]

Dry? No. There are some places more dry but not in general. The best places are on south coasts and low/protected areas.

[Janpol]

Hmmm ... I don't know if it's true. There is a pineapple plantation on the island São Miguel (under glass) because it's just too cold there.

[Luisport]

Hmmm ... I don't know if it's true. There is a pineapple plantation on the island São Miguel (under glass) because it's just too cold there.

Of course it's true. You have diferent micro-climates in same island. The only cofee plantation in Europe is in Azores.

[K-Rimes]

Azores or Canaries have the right micro climates for sure. Continental europe though? Don't think so. This all said, if you're in zone 10a or above you could build the right kind of greenhouse and pull it off

[Mike T]

Its a stretch saying these islands are part of Europe. I think the Azores have winter minimums a little lower than the lowland Canary Islands but the lows would not preclude cacao. Whether there is enough 'heat units' for them would be interesting to see and the winter rainfall maximum, low humidity and low rainfail could be dealt with.Gran Canaria is probably warm enough to grow them and perhaps even fruit them in s sheltered spot.
BTW coffee and pineapples are more cold hardy so not a fair comparison.

[Janpol]

On Canary Islands rainfall doesn't exceed 530mm (in the wettest place). Cacao tree need about 2000-2500 mm. I don't manage to foot the bill for water for cacao tree ...

[CGameProgrammer]

Coffee is not very tropical at all and is easily grown in many areas, as is pineapple, so those are not worth mentioning. Cacao is so tropical that it's a struggle even in south Florida because the winters can get too dry. I know the Miami-area botanical gardens only grow cacao in greenhouses (unheated) just to contain humidity so the trees can do OK.

I think there is no way it can be grown outdoors on the Azores. It's not about cold, it's about humidity.