Nuts· Anacardium occidentale
Cashew Growing Guide
Tropical evergreen tree producing cashew nuts and cashew apples. The nut grows externally at the bottom of the cashew apple (false fruit). Major export commodity in tropical countries.
How Long Does Cashew Take to Grow?
Cashew typically reaches its first harvest about 3 years after planting.
FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Production: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 13 October 2026. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL Licence: CC-BY-4.0.
Growing Conditions
Soil Requirements
Soil Type & pH
Best soil types: sandy loam, laterite, sandy
pH range: 4.5 - 6.5 (optimal: 5.5)
Drainage: good
Nutrient Needs (N-P-K)
Planting Guide
Yield & Economics
Common Pests & Diseases
Common Pests
- tea mosquito bug
- stem borer
- leaf miner
Common Diseases
- anthracnose
- powdery mildew
- gummosis
Use AI crop disease detection to identify issues early and prevent crop losses.
Growing Tips
CNSL (cashew nut shell liquid) is caustic and causes skin burns — use protective equipment during processing; mechanical shelling is safer than manual methods.
Use grafted high-yielding varieties rather than seedlings for commercial plantations; grafted trees bear fruit 2-3 years earlier.
A dry period of 3-4 months before flowering is essential for good nut set; irrigation during this dormant period reduces yield.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Cashew take to grow?
Cashew typically takes about 3 years from planting to first harvest. Seeds germinate in about 21 days. The best planting season is monsoon, spring.
What soil does Cashew need?
Cashew grows best in sandy loam, laterite, sandy soil with a pH of 4.5-6.5. Good drainage is required.
What temperature does Cashew need?
Cashew grows best at 24-35°C. Frost tolerance: none. Heat tolerance: high.
What is the expected yield for Cashew?
Across 34 countries with grounded data, reported national yields for Cashew range from 80 to 7,200 kg raw nut/hectare, with a median of 825. These are national statistics, not a best-case figure — an individual farm's yield depends on variety, climate, soil and management.
Key Agronomy Terms
Core farming concepts, explained in plain language.
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