Cashew Plant Care: Tips to Grow Healthy Cashew Trees from Nursery

🌰 Introduction

Cashew is a tropical plant valued for its nut and apple. With minimal care and the right environment, cashew trees can thrive and produce for decades.

🧱 Ideal Soil & Potting Mix

• Sandy loam soil with good drainage.
• pH: 5.5 to 7.0
• Use a mix of garden soil, sand, and compost (2:1:1).

💦 Watering Frequency & Fertilizer Needs

• Water every 3–4 days for the first 3 months.
• After establishment, water weekly.
• Apply compost and cow dung every 2 months.
• Use potassium-rich fertilizer during flowering.

🐛 Dealing with Pests & Fungal Infections

• Use neem spray for leaf miners.
• Apply Bordeaux mixture for fungal infections.

🌳 Pruning & Growth Management

• Prune lower branches early.
• Promote central leader growth.

🥜 When and How to Harvest Cashew

• Fruit appears after 2–3 years.
• Pick fruits once the cashew apple turns red/yellow and nut hardens.

🌾 Commercial Cultivation Insights

• Ideal spacing: 7×7 meters.
• Yield improves from year 4 onwards.