Handbook of Vanilla Science and Technology

Another disadvantage of the traditional vanilla cultivation system is the water supply. Building an irrigation system is expensive for small farmers. Also, the live tutors make long distance irrigation systems impractical. Individual irrigation is needed for each tree. The organic material is also expensive to obtain in the dry season. On the other hand, the live tutor can supply the organic matter for the vanilla plant in the rainy period. The hours of hand work needed are less than in an intensive system. A single worker can maintain 4 hectares of vanilla plantation in an open field. In summary, there are three main agricultural practices required for successful vanilla cultivation in the open field: shade in the dry period, organic material, and an adequate water supply. There are some other agricultural practices also needed in vanilla cultivation, such as good drainage and air circulation. The steps establishing a traditional vanilla plantation in Costa Rica are:

• preparing the land;

• planting the live tutor (tree)/building a net house;

• maintenance of the tree, cleaning around the base of the tree, fertilization, land cleaning;

• pruning the tree to an open branched tree;

• applying organic fertilizers at the base of the tutor;

• planting the vanilla plant at the base of the tutor; it should be planted opposite from the sun;

• maintainance of the vanilla plant with weeding, disease control, pest, fertilization, organic matter applications, and water supply;

• guiding the vanilla stem up and down from the tutor trunk and their branches;

• pollinating the vanilla flowers;

• harvesting the vanilla beans;

• processing the vanilla beans;

• selecting and packing of vanilla beans.

Preparation of the land is usually done by tractor. After the trees are planted, the cleaning is done by a weeding machine, as well as by hand around the base of the tree. The planting of the trees is done after an application of organic material. The density of trees is about 2,500 trees per hectare. The first pruning is done when the trees are about 1 m tall. When these trees are 3 years old, the lower branches will be about 2 m above the ground, which is a good height for hand pollination.

The application of 2 to 3 kg of organic matter around the tutor is needed before planting the vanilla plant. This organic matter must provide good drainage, aeration, and nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium to the vanilla plant. It is very important that there is enough organic matter, both to supply nutrition for the plant needs and to retain enough water for the plant. At least two applications of organic matter per year are recommended. One organic application at the beginning of the dry period should retain enough water to support the plant. The other application should be 6 months later and provide enough drainage and good aeration for the plant roots. Some examples of organic medium used are sawdust, decomposing leaves, cane chaff bagasse, wood chips, rice hulls, and a mixture of organic cane products and rice hulls. The application of organic matter is recommended from December to February and from June to August in Costa Rica.

The maintenance of the vanilla plants includes some applications of organic fertilizer, biological control of fungi, and insect repellents. The guiding of the vanilla stem is up and down from the base of the tree to the top branches. For optimum blooming, the plants should have about 60% shade. Pollination is done in the dry season, from February to June, in the northern part of Costa Rica and from December to May in the Pacific coast region. The blooming is induced by water stress since Costa Rica does not have low temperatures because it is located near the equator. However, after induction of blooming, the plants need to be provided with adequate water. Because the blooming time is in the summer, irrigation is needed to protect the plant from stress and to prevent pollen drying. In addition, the young beans should be protected from lack of water, otherwise they turn yellow and eventually drop. The species V. tahitensis is very sensitive to lack of water. On the other hand, the vanilla cultivar “Vaitsy” is less sensitive to lack of water. The harvest is done 9 months after pollination, from December to February in Costa Rica. The vanilla beans are harvested when they are not only mature but ripe, which is indicated by a yellowish color at the tip of the bean. If the vanilla beans are left on the vine too long, they can split and are less valuable.

3.4 VANILLA PRODUCTION - THE INTENSIVE SYSTEM